FC Bayern Munchen cruised into the UEFA Champions League group stage after wrapping up a 3-0 aggregate triumph over FC Zurich in the play-offs on Tuesday night, uefa.com informs.
Already two to the good from last week’s home leg, Bayern’s progress rarely looked in doubt once Mario Gomez put them 1-0 up in Switzerland after seven minutes. The four-time European champions can now look forward to discovering their group stage opponents in Thursday’s draw. ‘We are not at 100%, we still have work to do. For me, it was difficult under [Louis] Van Gaal as I did not have a good relationship with him. Now I am enjoying myself again, I dribble and run a lot and I have the confidence I need”, said Franck Ribery, Bayern forward for uefa.com.
Villarreal CF will compete in the UEFA Champions League group stage for the third time thanks to a 3-0 victory against Odense BK (aggregate 3-1).
“We have reached the greatest [club] stage in world football and we have to revel in that. Whoever we face, we will do so filled with eagerness”, said Juan Carlos Garrido, Villarreal coach for uefa.com.
Other results in CL play-offs on Tuesday night: Genk – M Haifa 2-1 (4-1 p); Malmo – Dinamo Zagreb 2-0; APOEL – Wisla Krakow 3-1. Genk, Dinamo Zagreb and APOEL have qualified.
