Bayern's European fears unfounded
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Shanghai Daily, August 19, 2011
Champions League final host Bayern Munich's worries about missing out on the competition were largely allayed on Wednesday when Arjen Robben inspired the Germans to a 2-0 win at home to FC Zurich in the first leg of their playoff.
Robben set up the first goal for Bastian Schweinsteiger and curled in the second himself as last season's Swiss Super League runner-up did little to suggest it could trouble the Bavarians in next week's return.
Odense produced a shock 1-0 win at home to Spaniards Villarreal when Hans Henrik Andreasen scored following an awful defensive blunder with six minutes left.
Wisla Krakow, which like the Danish side is hoping to play in the Champions League for the first time, beat Cypriots APOEL by the same score.
Brazilian playmaker Sammir scored twice to help Croatian champion Dinamo Zagreb to a 4-1 win at home to former European Cup finalist Malmo and Maccabi Haifa beat Genk 2-1.
Bayern has only missed out on the Champions League once in the last 14 seasons and its worst nightmare would be failing to qualify in a season when the final takes place at the Allianz Arena.
Its first-leg victory would appear to be an ample advantage against Zurich whose Letzigrund stadium, with a small capacity and running track around the pitch, is one of Europe's less intimidating venues.
The Swiss took only one point from three home games when they played in the Champions League two years ago. Zurich's best chance in Munich came after five minutes when Ricardo Rodriguez's long cross found Amine Chermiti and his header flew over.
Unmarked
After that, it was all Bayern and it went ahead three minutes later when Robben broke to the byline and found an unmarked Schweinsteiger who headed in from close range. Bayern created plenty of chances with Zurich keeper Johnny Leoni producing a superb double save to deny Franck Ribery and Philipp Lahm early in the second half before the Frenchman hit the post with a free-kick.
Mario Gomez, Bundesliga top scorer with 28 goals last season, contrived to fire wide from six meters before Robben curled the second in the 72nd minute.
"It was a good result for us and puts us in a good position for the return match," said Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who did not have a save to make.
Villarreal had the better of the match against Odense but the hosts were gifted the winner when Andreasen pounced on a loose back pass by Colombian debutant Cristian Zapata to fire a rasping drive into the net.
