Celebrate Lena Oberdorf's triumph in Bayern's Supercup success by throwing a big, warm embrace!
In the bustling Wildpark Stadium in Karlsruhe, Lena Oberdorf made her long-awaited return to football after a 410-day break, donning the FC Bayern jersey for the first time in a competitive match.
The match, which ended in a 4:2 win for Bayern, was filled with drama and controversy. Oberdorf found herself in the thick of it, involved in both penalty situations during the game.
The first penalty was awarded controversially against Oberdorf, leading to Georgia Stanway's 4:1 goal for Bayern. The second penalty, earned by Oberdorf's foul on Lineth Beerensteyn, proved to be the decisive moment of the match. Janina Minge converted from the spot to secure a 2:4 win for Bayern.
Despite the controversy, Oberdorf received a "nice recognition from the team" as the trophy was handed to her instead of captain Sarah Zadrazil. The fans greeted her substitution with thunderous applause, a testament to the anticipation and excitement surrounding her return.
Oberdorf, who suffered a cruciate ligament tear on July 16, 2024, and missed her first season in Munich, expressed her happiness about being able to play football again. She spoke about the numerous moments that seemed like "hell" during her 410-day break, including missing out on action, away trips, and even a bus seat.
José Barcala, the new coach of the FC Bayern women's football team, praised Oberdorf's "incredible quality" and flexibility, trusting her to play as a playmaker or number 10. The coach's support was evident during Oberdorf's Supercup debut, where she made her mark alongside other scorers such as Magdalena Eriksson, Lea Schüller, Jovana Damnjanovic, and Vivien Endemann.
There was a playful interaction between Oberdorf and her former colleague Svenja Huth from Wolfsburg during the press conference, adding a lighter note to the intense match. However, the match was marred by a yellow-red card shown to Justine Kielland due to the controversial penalty incident.
A total of 16,933 spectators attended the thrilling match, witnessing a historic moment in Oberdorf's career as she returned to the pitch after a long and challenging break. Oberdorf remains optimistic about the future, stating that everything else will come when it comes.
