Red cards for hair-pulling star, furious coach in drama-filled Women's Champions League semi-final

Bayern Munich goal-scorer Franziska Kett was sent off for a hair pull in a 1-1 draw with Barcelona in the first leg of their Women’s Champions League semi-final on Sunday (AEST).

Kett cancelled Ewa Pajor’s early strike but was shown a red card in the 79th minute after she pulled Salma Paralluelo by the hair when the Barcelona substitute was getting away from her.

Bayern coach José Barcala was also shown red by referee Ivana Martinčić for his protests, which were futile because a VAR check confirmed Kett’s foul.

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Both will be suspended for the second leg in Barcelona on May 4 (AEST).

Klara Bühl, who returned together with Giulia Gwinn from injury for Bayern's Bundesliga-clinching win earlier in the week, said Kett's absence would be a blow.

“She has speed, she has power, good left and right foot,” Bühl said. “It’s really hard for us that she cannot be there but we have a great squad. We have some players that can play there and they will be also amazing.”

Kett preserved Bayern’s hopes of making the final for the first time when she equalised after a well-worked team move in the 69th.

The match pitted newly crowned champions against each other after both teams clinched their domestic championships.

But Barcelona won 7-1 in their previous meeting in the league phase and Bayern’s supporters must have feared the worst when Pajor scored with the visitors' first shot on target in the eighth minute.

Esmee Brugts easily cut inside Gwinn to deliver the cross for Pajor to score with a volley.

“I'm happy because I can help the team with this and that is the most important thing. Of course, Esmee played a very good ball,” said Pajor after her eighth goal in as many appearances in the Champions League this season.

Despite conceding, Bayern improved as the half progressed. Kett drew a good save from Cata Coll before the break.

Brugts struck the post after the interval as Barcelona regained its earlier dominance, only to be caught out when Kett leveled.

Bayern held on after Kett’s send-off to leave the tie finely poised.

“We worked hard. We know it’s difficult to play against a team like Barcelona that’s good at finding spaces,” Bayern forward Pernille Harder said. “We worked really hard, found our moments to go in transitions and we also got a goal. Then the red card and then we just had to fight the last minutes.”

Trophy-holder Arsenal faces eight-time champion Lyon in the other semi-final.

The final will be in Oslo on May 24 (AEST). Barcelona is bidding to reach it for the sixth straight year.