Article

Soldado eyes positive start

18 September 2012 16:34

Valencia striker Roberto Soldado is backing his team to win their Champions League opener at Bayern Munich.

The prolific forward sees the Bavarians as their strongest opponents in Group F, but feels they have already shown in La Liga games against Barcelona and Real Madrid that they can compete with Europe's finest.

"We have to win in order to get the good start we are aiming for," Soldado said.

"It will not be an easy game against the strongest team in our group, but we have already shown versus Barcelona and Real Madrid what we can do.

"We are full of confidence and want to start our Champions League campaign on a high.

"However, Bayern have some great players and are among the best teams in Europe. They made it to the Champions League final for a reason last term."

Both sides met in the final of the 2000/01 Champions League, which Bayern won on penalties.

Info

Bayern München

W W D W W

2 - 1

Valencia

W W W L W

Competition

Half-time: 1 - 0
Full-time: 2 - 1

Venue: Allianz-Arena (München)
Attendance: 68000

Goals

B. Schweinsteiger 38' (assist by A. Robben)	1 - 0
T. Kroos 76' (assist by H. Badstuber)	2 - 0
	2 - 1	90' N. Valdéz (assist by Jonathan Viera)

Lineups

#	Player	Bookings
1	M. Neuer
21	P. Lahm
17	J. Boateng
28	H. Badstuber
4	Dante
10	A. Robben
31	B. Schweinsteiger	38'
7	F. Ribéry
8	Javi Martínez
39	T. Kroos	76'
14	C. Pizarro
Coach: J. Heynckes

#	Player	Bookings
1	Diego Alves
20	Ricardo Costa	86'
4	A. Rami	83' 90+2'
12	João Pereira
3	A. Cissokho
17	A. Guardado
24	A. Costa	75'
8	S. Feghouli
21	Dani Parejo
9	Soldado
7	Jonas
Coach: M. Pellegrino

Substitutes

#	Player	Bookings
25	T. Müller for F. Ribéry 46'
9	M. Mandžukić for C. Pizarro 63'	90+4'
30	Luiz Gustavo for Javi Martínez 69'
11	X. Shaqiri
22	T. Starke
36	E. Can
44	A. Tymoshchuk

#	Player	Bookings
16	N. Valdéz for Jonas 63'	90'
15	Jonathan Viera for A. Guardado 71'
14	Barragán for Soldado 88'
13	Guaita
18	Víctor Ruíz
28	Juan Bernat
32	Portu

Saturday 25 May

18:51	Pellegrini tight-lipped on future
18:40	Keane: Galaxy need confidence
18:09	Wechsel zu Atletico? Patrick Ebert will Champions League spielen
17:43	J.League Wrap: Omiya Ardija stay top, Yokohama keep pressure on
16:43	Jones aims for full pre-season
16:20	Gerrard hails ´unbelievable´ Carragher
16:16	Lavezzi wants Rooney to join PSG revolution
16:07	Beckham´s MLS plans stalled
15:25	Heynckes lauds Robben
15:24	Michu aims for improvements at Swansea
14:51	Zidane unsurprised by all-German Champions League final
14:33	Hummels hopeful Dortmund success will stop exodus
14:09	Lescott keen to move forward
13:58	Cavani concentrating on Napoli
13:34	Deeney looks to pay back support
12:35	Fernandes: We got it wrong at QPR
12:01	Lampard wants new Terry deal
11:44	Le Fondre: Reading have improved under Adkins
11:17	Yanga-Mbiwa focused on improvement
11:14	Zidane: Bale is in world´s top three players
11:09	Championship Preview: Crystal Palace v Watford
09:13	Aguero plans to honour City contract
05:44	Mourinho return excites Ba
04:34	Polish Ekstraklasa: Widzew Lodz 1 Legia Warsaw 1
04:14	Oezil keen to stay at Real
04:09	De Rossi pleads for peaceful final
03:42	Chelsea, Galatasaray vie for Turan
03:25	Ballack predicts a Bayern victory
03:13	Santos accept Neymar bids
02:27	Atletico plot Negredo swoop
01:46	La Liga Preview: Espanyol v Barcelona
00:19	Valbuena: My best season so far

Friday 24 May

22:23	Blackburn give Bowyer permanent role
21:50	Dortmund can get better, insists Klopp
21:33	Fernandes: No Caterham exit plans
21:11	Inter appoint Mazzarri, sack Stramaccioni
20:42	Benitez in Napoli link
20:17	Adams signs new Ross County deal
19:39	Heynckes: Bayern are extraordinary
19:01	Platini: European sports police needed
18:12	Taylor calls on Coloccini to stay
18:06	Verratti is going nowhere, says agent
17:56	Neymar set to leave Santos ´within 10 days´
17:51	Gill expects Rooney stay
17:44	Departing Cole thanks West Ham fans
16:59	Shechter grateful for Swansea support
16:44	Townsend charged over betting rules
16:43	Reading release six players
16:41	Monaco splash out for Moutinho, Rodriguez
16:32	Rummenigge: Bayern not complacent
16:07	Giroud seeks improvement
16:04	Palermo chief welcomes bids for Ilicic
16:03	AZ bolster defensive stocks
16:00	Lambert: Benteke needs to stay at Villa
15:52	Andreolli poised for Inter return
15:22	Bianchi: Boca players tired
15:05	Cech: Mourinho a great manager
14:52	Blatter outlines racism resolution aim
14:37	Manchester City players coy on Pellegrini
14:14	Marseille priced out of Damiao move
13:55	McAuley: West Brom could have done more
13:52	Osman extends Everton stay
13:43	Stoke reject N´Zonzi transfer request
13:19	Carragher retirement ´sad´, says Mourinho
12:58	Manolev happy to help
12:37	Europa league winners to get Champions League spot
11:22	First goal bittersweet for Azpilicueta
11:06	La Liga Preview: Real Sociedad v Real Madrid
10:54	La Liga Preview: Pressure on for Euro spots
10:46	Ligue 1 Preview: Victory only hope for Troyes
10:40	MLS preview: Second place up for grabs
10:37	Coentrao heading for Real exit
10:26	Coppa Italia Preview: Roma v Lazio
10:02	Ligue 1 Preview: Lorient v PSG
08:56	Malaga win was catalyst, says Klopp
07:10	Milan finalise Zapata switch
07:01	Montella braced for Jovetic departure
06:20	Simeone will not block Falcao exit
05:58	Van Gaal talks down Netherlands´ chances
05:49	Coupet doubts Monaco´s potential
05:47	Man City edge Chelsea in thrilling friendly
05:41	Torres wants Mourinho at Chelsea
04:57	Copa Libertadores Wrap: Atletico Mineiro snatch late draw
04:49	Galliani dismisses Berlusconi row reports
04:37	San Lorenzo renew Coloccini pursuit
04:29	Benteke sparks fears of Villa exit
04:27	Weidenfeller: We can be heroes
04:18	Injured Messi called up by Argentina
04:13	Cleverley taking inspiration from Spain
03:16	Kellermann proud of resilient Wolfsburg
03:05	Robben hails dominant Germany
02:49	Europe the benchmark for Zaccheroni´s Japan
01:39	Osieck backs Schwarzer to shine

Thursday 23 May

23:59	Van der Gun shoots Utrecht to away win
23:39	Firmino double fires Hoffenheim to win
21:41	Davies hails ´great´ debut season
21:17	Foster happy with eighth-placed finish
20:15	Wickham eyeing first team
19:44	UEFA to announce Europa League incentive
19:31	Fonte looking to hit the ground running
19:21	Hodgson keen to hand Jones defensive role
18:43	Onuoha: Keep the faith with QPR owners
18:09	Karagounis praises Fulham fans
18:07	McDermott: Byram keen on Leeds stay
18:02	Martinez´s Wigan future to be decided next week
17:47	Rodriguez: I think I will leave Porto
17:44	Erbes ´relaxed´ ahead of Newell´s clash
17:20	CSL Preview: Shandong Luneng eye top spot
17:18	Kwakman to leave Groningen
16:45	Werder Bremen complete Petersen signing
16:28	Mancini Inter return is possible, says Moratti
16:20	Baines: Everton must progress without Moyes
16:07	Nicollin: Cabella worth 100 million euros
15:56	Demel proud of West Ham´s home record
15:49	Debuchy: Premier League is difficult
15:21	Pazzini to miss start of next season
15:09	Ferdinand extends Manchester United deal
14:23	Pulis thanks fans after Stoke departure
14:07	Berlin to host 2015 UEFA Champions League final
14:04	Werder face Dutt wait
13:43	Finke appointed Cameroon boss
13:38	Wilshere keen to improve after comeback season
13:08	Vieira excited by MLS franchise
13:04	Rodgers wants quick decision on Carroll future
12:55	Kagawa wants European success
11:21	Mata hopes for Mourinho arrival
10:44	Welbeck disappointed with goals tally
10:36	UEFA Champions League Preview: Borussia Dortmund v Bayern Munich
10:23	Zabaleta excited by Pellegrini
09:53	Ramos: Bale is ´Real Madrid-quality´
08:59	Hart urges City to go forward
05:27	Copa Libertadores Wrap: Santa Fe earn away win
05:24	Fiorentina reject Jovetic rumours
05:16	Piszczek set for post-season surgery
04:48	Adriano signs Barca extension
04:33	International Friendly: Venezuela 2 El Salvador 1
04:22	Bundesliga chief slams Qatar World Cup scheduling
03:52	Gignac wants Barton to stay
02:35	Ramsey, Walcott hail Wenger´s achievements
02:20	Loew regrets timing of German finale

Related