MUNICH, Germany: For the fifth time in four years, European giants Bayern Munich and Manchester City will play each other in the Champions League group stages.
The opening game in Group E today sees the German and English champions meet in Munich’s Allianz Arena, where City came back from two goals down to win 3-2 in their final group game last December.
While City went on to lose to Barcelona in the last 16, group winners Bayern were hammered 5-0 over two legs by eventual winners Real Madrid in the semi-finals.
Bayern sit joint top of the Bundesliga after three matches but they have a lengthy injury list going into their first European match. Midfielders Bastian Schweinsteiger, Javi Martinez and Thiago are all out with knee injuries and the Bavarians suffered another blow on Saturday when Holger Badstuber limped off with a thigh injury in the 2-0 win over VfB Stuttgart.
Badstuber had recently returned from 20 months out with a double cruciate ligament injury and in his absence new signing Mehdi Benatia could make his debut on Wednesday in the home defence.
One bright spot for Bayern at the weekend was the return of Franck Ribery following a knee problem. The French midfielder made his first appearance of the season against Stuttgart, coming off the bench in the second half to score Bayern’s second goal with five minutes remaining.
“We’re currently in a very difficult situation at the moment because we have a lot of players injured and players who are not yet fully fit,’ Ribery said.
“But we’re trying to make the best of it. We’re doing everything we can so that we can still get results.”
Ribery’s decision to concentrate on club football was criticised last week by UEFA President Michel Platini, who suggested that the 31-year-old could be forced to serve a ban should he refuse a call-up to the France squad.
Ribery, who scored in Bayern’s 3-1 win over City in Manchester last October, has dismissed his fellow countryman’s comments.
“It doesn’t really interest me,” Ribery said. “I’ve decided to retire and people have to accept that.”
Bayern captain Philipp Lahm also retired from international football this summer after leading Germany to World Cup glory.
AFP
