Struggling Bayern still looking for elusive form

In the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich appeared to be running away with a five point lead. Facing the second hurdle of the Champions League on Wed...

In the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich appeared to be running away with a five point lead. Facing the second hurdle of the Champions League on Wednesday, however, Bayern looks like they are falling flat.

Forced to qualify for the group stages, the four-time winner are struggling after two losses and a tie. The team visits five-time titlist AC Milan, who tops Group G with a maximum nine points from three games.

If Bayern loses again and second place Deportivo de la Coruna wins at French club Lens, then Bayern may end up going out much earlier than expected.

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Bayern won 1-0 at Hansa Rostock in the league on Saturday and coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said it was the ideal boost before the visit to Milan. By contrast, Milan, Arsenal, Manchester United, Valencia and Barcelona all look set to clinch places in the second phase of group games with two matches to spare. All have maximum points from three games while nine-time champion Real Madrid could join them despite tying their last game.

English champions Arsenal have yet to concede a goal as they face French club Auxerre at Highbury in Group A tomorrow. Two teams qualify from each group and Arsene Wenger’s team already had an eight point lead over third place Auxerre.

Borussia Dortmund is favourite to get the other place from the group and hosts last place PSV Eindhoven. Group B leader Valencia have just a five point lead over Liverpool and Basle, but a victory in Switzerland will put the team out of range of the third place Swiss team.

Liverpool will take on last place Spartak, having beaten the Russians 5-0 at Anfield and leaving them without a goal or a point. Emile Heskey is fit to make the journey but Gerard Houllier’s team will be forced to play without Steven Gerrard who suffered a hip injury in England’s 2-2 tie with Macedonia on Wednesday. Manchester United takes a six point lead to Olympiakos on Wednesday and needs only a point to make sure of qualifying from Group F. That means manager Alex Ferguson has no need to rush Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy back into action after his hamstring problems.

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Barcelona are five points ahead in Group H and hope to clinch a second phase spot by beating last place Lokomotiv Moscow at home irrespective of the result between second place Galatasaray of Turkey and third place Brugge who meet in Belgium. Real Madrid should also join the early qualifiers by beating AEK Athens at home despite being held to a 3-3 tie in Greece. The Group C leader may give Ronaldo his first appearance in competition as they go into the game with seven points from two wins and a tie.