“Now we’re switching to Champions League mode,” said Bayern Munich’s sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic before today’s opener in Milan against Inter (9 p.m., Servus TV). After the last two 1-1 draws in the Bundesliga against Mönchengladbach and Union Berlin, the 45-year-old called for “more goals – and zero point zero high spirits”.
Bayern Munich has won the opening game 18 times in a row – but the task has seldom been as difficult as it is today. “In a group phase like this, the opening game is very important for the feeling and the further course, so as not to come under pressure,” said veteran Thomas Müller. This time it is particularly true: FC Barcelona plays as the third heavyweight in Group D. The Catalans open at home against the alleged points supplier Pilsen.
Müller has good memories of the San Siro Stadium: “It’s not the most modern stadium anymore, but I’ve been there as a spectator as a child and I’m still very impressed by the story.” He is the only professional in the Bayern squad who has already played against Inter: in 2010 Bayern lost the Champions League final 0-2, in 2011 the 2-3 at home meant elimination in the round of 16 after the 1-0 in Milan. There, Bayern have won all three previous games against Inter.
Bayern want to score more – Inter want to reduce the number of goals conceded. “We’re getting too many and we have to improve a lot,” said coach Simone Inzaghi after the two Serie A defeats against Lazio (1-3) and AC Milan (2-3) within a week.
Grillitsch’s debut?
In Group A, last year’s finalists Liverpool are visiting Naples. In the parallel game, Florian Grillitsch can hope for his debut for Ajax Amsterdam in the game against Glasgow Rangers. The 27-year-old from Lower Austria, who signed for the Netherlands on Thursday, was on the bench in Saturday’s 4-0 win against Cambuur Leeuwarden.
Source: Nachrichten
