Bergkamp menace awaits Inter

Arsenal forward Dennis Bergkamp will be hoping to wreak havoc on his former club Inter Milan when the two sides meet in Champions League Gro...

Arsenal forward Dennis Bergkamp will be hoping to wreak havoc on his former club Inter Milan when the two sides meet in Champions League Group B on Wednesday.

Bergkamp, who had an unhappy spell at Inter from 1993-95, is almost certain to feature as Arsenal8217;s Premier League leaders look to exploit a weakened Inter side at Highbury.

The Dutchman should play alongside striker Thierry Henry in a test of early season form for two clubs who have never met before, but who are both expected to make it through to the knockout stages of competition.

Looking back on his stay in Serie A, Bergkamp told the Evening Standard on Tuesday: 8220;I experienced struggle for the first time. But I believe it did me good. In Italian football you have so few chances because it is tight, defensive.8221;

The Dutchman needs to make the most of this season8217;s home games as his fear of flying will rule him out of trips to Dynamo Kiev and Lokomotiv Moscow, and probably also Milan.

Bayern8217;s worries

BERLIN: Bayern Munich open their campaign at home to Celtic on Wednesday with worries that a nervous defence might hurt their bid to bounce back in Europe.

The four-times European champions desperately want to shine in the showcase competition to make up for their embarrassing first-stage exit last year but their recent league form suggests they might struggle again.

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8220;We need more stability in our game, particularly at the back,8221; goalkeeper and captain Oliver Kahn said after the German champions conceded their first defeat of the season by losing 3-2 at VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday.

Lyon determined

PARIS: Unable to make it past the group phase for the past three seasons, Olympique Lyon are determined to prove their European worth at long last.

The French champions, sluggish on the domestic front , host Anderlecht in their opening Group A match on Wednesday, hoping to kick-start their season.

8220;The real test for us is Wednesday8217;s game. We must finish first or second in the group and our season starts in earnest against Anderlecht,8221; club President Jean-Michel Aulas said.