Bayern Munich hope to forget the pain in Spain

Last May’s final in the Nou Camp has already gone down in football history books as the most dramatic finish ever to a major final and has even been dubbed by some as “the final of the century”.

Bayern produced a near flawless tactical display during the scheduled 90 minutes, leading United 1-0. The trophy had been brought to the pitchside in Bayern ribbons as the game drifted into injury time.

But United substitutes Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored two goals in 95 seconds to snatch the trophy away at the death.

Coach Ottmar Hitzfeld claimed his players had gone into clinical shock when Sheringham equalisedand an indifferent start to the current domestic campaign suggests his team are still in need of some therapy.

A convincing 3-1 win over fellow German Champions League contenders Hertha Berlin at the weekend was Bayern’s best show so far this term. Libero Lothar Matthaus is due to move to the United States in the new year while last week playmaker Mario Basler and Sven Scheuer were effectively sacked for a bust-up in a pizzeria. And Markus Babbel looks destined to move to Liverpool in the summer.

The losing side in Valencia — both teams have five points — could be leapfrogged by Rangers, assuming they beat PSV Eindhoven of Holland in Glasgow. And a draw would see the Scots top the pool if PSV are duly dispatched.

In group E it is leaders Real Madrid, hunting a record eighth title, who will be hoping to defeat closest pursuers FC Porto of Portugal, themselves continental kings in 1987.

Today’s Matches

Group E

Real Madrid vs FC Porto

Group F

Bayern vs Valencia

Rangers vs PSVEindhoven

Group G

Bordeaux vs Spartak Moscow

Willem II Tilburg vs Sparta Prague

Group H

AC Milan vs Hertha Berlin

Chelsea vs Galatasaray

BIERHOFF FOR ENGLISH LEAGUE: AC Milan striker Oliver Bierhoff has hinted in the German press that he was thinking of ending his playing days in London, reports DPA.

Bild quoted the 31-year-old as saying, “London is my ideal city, also to play football.” Bierhoff’s relationship with Milan coach Alberto Zaccheroni has reportedly deteriorated since the German moved there from Udinese in 1997.

RONALDO RAPS INTER: Ronaldo slated his team’s performance at the weekend after Inter Milan were toppled from the leadership of the Serie A by lowly Venezia. Inter’s first defeat and Venezia’s first win left Ronaldo criticising the squandering of three easy points.

“We were too slow, we didn’t move the ball around much and when we did, we did it badly. We just didn’t read the game properly,” he said. The striker warned his teammatesahead of the Derby against AC Milan this weekend: “If we want to win the league, we have to win matches like that one.”