Lăcătuş finds Bayern ripe for the picking

FC Steaua Bucureşti start their bid to survive the UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time with a stern test against Jürgen Klinsmann's FC Bayern München in Bucharest.

Qualifying process
Runners-up in Romania's top flight last season, Steaua coach Marius Lăcătuş had to steer his team through a third qualifying round tie against Galatasaray AŞ in order to join Bayern, Olympique Lyonnais and ACF Fiorentina in Group F. "We're pleased to be here," Lăcătuş said on the eve of Matchday 1. "Clearly, we have to prove that we can play good football and that we're here for the third year running because of that."

Enchanting combination
Determined to improve, Lăcătuş has brought in ten new players over the summer, including Colombian midfielder Juan Toja from FC Dallas, Brazilian striker Arthur Bernhardt from Córdoba CF and former Olympiacos CFP forward Pantelis Kapetanos. It makes for a blend of backgrounds which the Steaua coach believes has real potential. "I have faith in the players who have a lot of experience but, at the same time, I also have it in those who have never played in the Champions League and who want to demonstrate that they are top players," Lăcătuş said. "If we mix our experience with the desire to do well, the team's desire to show they are quality players, then we can get results.

'A good time'
"It will be a tough match," he said of the prospect of tangling with the four-time European champions. "Bayern have a strong side with quality players who have played a lot of international football. But they have weaknesses too and we'll try to exploit them." The 44-year-old reckons that although Bayern lie second in the Bundesliga, it is too early in the season for them to have reached peak form. "It's not the same as playing them in a month or two's time," he said. "Now is a good time for us to play Bayern at home." Steaua won 4-1 away to FC Farul Constanţa on Saturday.

'Lot of excitement'
Lăcătuş can expect no favours, though, from opponents seeking to make amends after a run of ten consecutive UEFA Champions League campaigns was ended last season, when Bayern only qualified for the UEFA Cup. "We know how difficult it will be, but there's a lot of excitement within the team," said Klinsmann, who played down the fact that this will be his first game in the competition as a coach. "We'll be up against a very strong Steaua side. They're very good at bringing the ball out of defence and going on the attack; their transition game is good. However, we've come here to get three points."

Toni debut
Bayern will be without French international playmaker Franck Ribéry, who is still recovering from an ankle injury sustained at UEFA EURO 2008™, but Italy striker Luca Toni is back on goalscoring form after injury, having netted twice in Bayern's 3-0 victory at 1. FC Köln on Saturday. Indeed, Toni is looking forward to making his first appearance at Europe's top table. Captain Mark van Bommel, who was rested against Köln, should also start.