Bayern 1-1 Barcelona — Kett Goal, Red Card Leaves UWCL Semi on Knife-Edge

Bayern fight back vs Barcelona in UWCL 

Bayern Munich draw 1-1 with Barcelona in UWCL semi-final first leg. Franziska Kett scores then sees red for hair-pull on Paralluelo. Barcala also sent off.

Bayern fight back to draw with Barcelona despite hair-pull red card in UWCL semi-final...

Six months after a 7-1 humiliation in the group stage, Bayern Munich shook off their Barcelona trauma. The German champions, fresh off an 11th straight league title, earned a 1-1 draw against the Spanish favorites in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final. They did it despite Franziska Kett’s red card. Bayern still have a chance to reach their first ever final ahead of next Sunday’s return leg at Camp Nou.

 

Franziska Kett kept the home side in the tie with her goal in front of 31,000 fans at the Allianz Arena in the 69th minute. But just ten minutes later, the German international received a straight red card for pulling Salma Paralluelo’s hair.

Bayern coach Jose Barcala was also sent off by referee Ivana Martinčić for his protests. They proved futile as a VAR check confirmed Kett’s foul.

Earlier, former Wolfsburg player Ewa Pajor had given Barca the lead in the 8th minute. The Spanish side are aiming for their sixth consecutive final.

“A tricky situation. She definitely didn't do it on purpose,” teammate Klara Buhl said about the decisive moment on Disney+.

  

Heading into their biggest match of the season so far, Bayern were determined to move past October’s humiliation.

“You have to believe in it,” said national team player Bühl, who returned to the starting lineup for the first time in over two months after a calf injury. “Everyone has to show that belief.”

All to play for at Camp Nou 💪#UWCL pic.twitter.com/J1QO5TaesK

— UEFA Women’s Champions League (@UWCL) April 25, 2026

“She wanted to pull the shirt and would have deserved a yellow card for that, no question. But the hair just got in the way.”

Barca land early blow

Still, Bayern’s respect for their opponents was clear. When Barcelona had possession, Bayern sat deep in their own half and looked to hit on the counter.

That approach worked at times, especially through Bühl. But while Pernille Harder missed the match’s first good chance in the 7th minute, Bayern supporters must have feared the worst when Pajor scored with the visitors’ first shot on target in the 8th minute.

But that was all Barca managed in the first half. With Uli Hoeneß and club boss Jan-Christian Dreesen watching on, Bayern grew in confidence and started to take more risks. Kett had Bayern’s best chance just before halftime in the 42nd minute, but goalkeeper Cata Coll denied her.

 

The visitors started the second half stronger and nearly doubled their lead. Esmee Brugts hit the post in the 49th minute, and defender Vanessa Gilles cleared off the line for Bayern in the 60th.

Kett kept Bayern’s hopes of a first final alive when she equalised in the 69th minute. The goal came from a well-worked team move, with Harder providing the assist.

Brilliant Bühl 😄✨#UWCL pic.twitter.com/7Uyi5KkTLD

— UEFA Women’s Champions League (@UWCL) April 25, 2026

Bayern held on after Kett’s dismissal to leave the tie finely poised ahead of the second leg in the Catalonian capital on May 3. There, Barcelona will look to reach the final for the sixth straight time.