Gilles' double propels Bayern into DFB-Pokal last‑16 while Gladbach falter

Vanessa Gilles' two first‑time strikes in the 74th and 81st minutes sealed Bayern Munich's 2‑1 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach on Sunday, sending the German side into the DFB‑Pokal Round of 16. The Canadian centre‑back, already nicknamed the Golden Head, added a Goal‑den Touch to her reputation.

Brace ends Gladbach’s early lead

Gladbach had taken the lead through Luca Graf near the end of the first half, threatening to knock the three‑time champions out. Gilles responded with a brace, her fifth goal in six appearances for Bayern, restoring the lead and ultimately the win.

Set‑piece partnership with Klara Bühl

The first goal came from a Klara Bühl corner that Gilles met at the near post, directing the ball into Luisa Palmen's roof. Seven minutes later she volleyed a second from another Bühl delivery, this time sending the ball to the far side of the goal.

Goal‑den Touch complements aerial prowess

While Gilles has long been lauded for her aerial ability, recent matches have highlighted an outburst of first‑time, often volleyed goals. This latest double underlines the evolution of her Goal‑den Touch alongside her traditional Golden Head reputation.

Her brace brought her tally to five goals in six appearances for Bayern Munich, a prolific run that shows no sign of stopping.

The win sets up a Round of 16 clash against Bayer Leverkusen, where a potential Canadian‑on‑Canadian showdown looms with Winnipeg‑born Caroline Kehrer representing the opponents.

Before that fixture, scheduled for Halloween, Gilles will join Canada on international duty against Denmark in a two‑game series.

Bayern’s next commitments include a UEFA Women’s Champions League match against Benfica on Wednesday and a league game versus Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday before the October break.