/ 28 September 2005

Bayern celebrate victory in new Allianz Arena

German champions Bayern Munich put themselves in a commanding position to qualify from Champions League Group A with a 1-0 home win over FC Bruges on Tuesday.

It was the first European match at Bayern’s new Allianz Arena and the German champions rewarded a 66 000 capacity crowd with a narrow victory.

Argentine midfielder Martin Demichelis netted after 32 minutes to ensure Bayern maintained their perfect European start following the opening 1-0 win over Rapid Vienna.

”It was a tough game but we should have sealed it with another goal,” commented Bayern manager Felix Magath. ”We were anxious until the final minute.”

”Juventus are up next and it will be a different task altogether as they know how to defend as well as attack.”

A 2-0 defeat by SV Hamburg at the weekend ended Bayern’s record run of 15 consecutive Bundesliga wins and Magath opted for a more adventurous line-up with Peruvian international Paolo Guerrero partnering Roy Makaay in attack.

But the early threat came from an unlikely source with veteran French defender Bixente Lizarazu twice going close in the opening quarter hour.

German international captain Michael Ballack, who turned 29 on Monday, then watched his free-kick curl inches wide of the post as the Bruges goal led a charmed life.

With 32 minutes gone the hosts got the breakthrough with a helping hand from Bruges goalkeeper Tomislav Butina.

Butina flapped at a corner kick from the left and an almighty scramble saw Demichelis react quicker than four Bruges players to toe-poke the ball in and earn the honour of scoring the first European goal at the stadium.

”It is a shame for us because we lost to a stupid goal,” bemoaned Bruges manager Jan Ceulemans.

”We played well despite injury problems but I think Bayern and Juventus are too strong for us in the Champions League.”

Bruges threatened briefly and forced Bayern custodian Oliver Kahn into an unorthodox clearance with his head as he raced out of the penalty area.

Bayern switched off temporarily in the second half and Ivan Leko almost equalised on 53 minutes — fizzing a shot past Kahn’s post as Bastian Schweinsteiger neglected his defensive duties.

Substitute Mehmet Scholl then went close at the other end with his free-kick forcing Butina into a smart save.

Bruges looked vulnerable at almost every set-piece and Demichelis should have clinched the match on 73 minutes heading a Willy Sagnol cross over after losing his marker.

But the miss could not spoil Bayern’s night with only an injury to Ballack leaving Magath with cause for concern.

After successive defeats Bruges’ chances of progression look slim and Sven Vermant admits third place and a Uefa Cup spot is now the target ”We are now in direct competition with Rapid [Vienna] for third place,” explained Vermant. ”No-one expected us to realistically finish above Bayern and Juventus.” – Sapa-AFP