Hibernian Ladies kicked off their Champions League adventure with a disappointing 6-0 defeat at the hands of FC Bayern Munich as the German side proved too strong for the home side. Stefanie van der Gragt, Nera Berge Holstad, Vivianne Miedema, Melanie Behringer and a couple of goals from Melanie Leupolz, were the ones which inflicted the pain. Hibs goalkeeper Jenna Fife made a series of fine saves throughout the game whilst Nicole Rolser missed a late penalty for the visitors.
Bayern game the match well and put Hibs under pressure early on with former Glasgow City winger Lisa Evans testing Fife with a fantastic delivery from the right. Beyerns looked impressive and they went ahead after only five minutes when van der Gragt headed in from a Verena Faisst corner kick. Moments later they had another opportunity when Gina Lewandowski’s cross from the right was looped towards goal by the head of Miedema and Fife reacted well to save. There were not many moments of respite for the Hibs defence, however, their forward temmates did have a promising counter-attack in the 16th minute with Abi Harrison just failing to connect with Rachel McLauchlan’s cross. Bayern’s van der Gragt was proving to be a potent weapon in the visitors’ arsenal from set pieces. The defender went close to doubling her side’s advantage, first heading just over from another Faisst corner kick before moments later heading the ball against the crossbar from close range. An uncharacteristic mistake from Fife presented Miedema with a clear sight of goal only for Joelle Murray to brilliantly read the danger and clear the net-bound shot off the line. The home side's best chance of the night came not long after when Lizzie Arnot’s long-range shot forced Tinja-Rikka Korpela into her first and only save of the evening. Bayern extended their lead in the 26th minute when Holstad collected a through ball before firing it high into the roof of the net and ten minutes later Leupolz headed in number three from close range.
The second half did not improve things from a Hibs point of view. Bayern’s fourth goal arrived in the 57th minute when Evans burst into the penalty box on the right and her low driven cross was turned in by Miedema. Hibs were being tough a harsh footballing lesson with Leupolz netting her second of the evening and Behringer slotting away a spot kick soon after. Bayern were clinical and were not finished there and it took fantastic saves from Fife to deny substitutes Anna Gerhardt and Rolser. On 81 minutes a push from Hibs substitute Emma Brownlie gave Bayern their second penalty kick of the evening only for Rolser to strike the crossbar. In time added on Rolser was sent clean through on goal however Fife stood tall to save to avoid a seventh.
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