Lea Schüller’s header gives Bayern Munich first-leg lead against Arsenal

Down, but not out. As 1-0 defeats go this was the vaguely encouraging kind for Arsenal, who even in defeat will leave Germany with the knowledge that progress remains within their grasp. Lea Schüller’s towering header was the difference between the sides here, but over the 90 minutes Arsenal created enough chances to offer plenty of hope for the second leg at the Emirates Stadium.The burning question, of course, is whether Arsenal will manage to take any of them. Twenty-five shots came and went for them, seven of them to the luckless Stina Blackstenius. But Bayern really did need to be at their resilient best in a pulsating second half, as an injury-depleted Arsenal managed to exert some serious pressure against a team that has conceded just four league goals all season. Caitlin Foord was probably Arsenal’s most dangerous player, cutting in off the left flank and creating all kinds of problems.

And the Allianz Arena was an imposing sight at kick-off, with its rolling waves of noise, its futuristic red lighting scheme, the smell of bratwurst wafting across a crowd that numbered a very healthy 20,000. Tactically and tonally there has always been a certain extra frisson to these big Champions League games, a sense of stepping into the unknown. This was the first time Bayern and Arsenal had ever met in a competitive game, and as well as they knew each other individually there was also a certain edginess to both sides at times that manifested itself in some scruffy touches and slightly frantic defending.It was a pleasingly open game too, with little of the caution you often expect in a first leg. Schuller’s goal towards the end of the first half came from her fourth shot, as Bayern sought time and again to spring the Arsenal