Lille v Bayern Munich preview
Kroos feels last season's runners-up will be under pressure
Last Updated: October 23, 2012 9:33am
Toni Kroos (l): In confident mood for Bayern Munich's game against Lille
Toni Kroos admits Bayern Munich will be under pressure in their Champions League clash at Lille, despite a flying start in the Bundesliga.
Bayern have won their opening eight league games, but have work to do to progress in Europe after a shock 3-1 loss in Minsk to BATE Borisov.
The Germans go into Tuesday's Group F match with three points from two games, three behind leaders BATE and three ahead of their pointless opponents.
"We're confident, and the momentum is with us as we go to Lille," Kroos told Bayern's official website.
"We're favourites in the group and want to live up to that. However, we're naturally under a little pressure after losing to Borisov, there's no question about it."
Great shape
Asked what improvements the team needed to make from the BATE game, he added: "We have to cut out the stupid errors and make more of our superiority. But to be honest we've put it behind us. We're in great shape at the moment, and that's the only thing that counts."
Bayern, beaten on penalties by Chelsea at their Allianz Arena stadium in last season's Champions League final, have gone two seasons without a trophy.
And Kroos claimed that disappointment is fuelling their impressive start to this campaign.
"Obviously, each one of us is even hungrier after two seasons without silverware," the 22-year-old said. "Just look at our performances in the league, where we've hardly ever eased off up to now.
"Every player has been up for it and motivated. Last season is enough of a warning.
"We also started well last season, but then we started dropping points due to carelessness. That can't be happening again."
Dangerous
Lille in contrast have endured a slow start to the season, lying 11th in Ligue 1 and bottom of Group F.
But Bayern defender Dante, who played for the French side for two seasons from 2004, said they will still pose a tough test.
He told Lille's website: "They are dangerous in attack and have very good players like (Marvin) Martin, (Nolan) Roux, (Salomon) Kalou who has won the Champions League with Chelsea, not to mention the coach Rudi Garcia.
"It will be a difficult match against a team of fighters who, in addition to battling, are good on the ball and solid defensively.
"We'll have to be 100 per cent focused to prevent Lille causing us problems."
Bayern will still be without forwards Mario Gomez and Arjen Robben through injury.
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Matches
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UEFA Champions League
Tue 23rd Oct - Group G
Tue 23rd Oct - Group F
Tue 23rd Oct - Group H
Tue 23rd Oct - Group E
Tables
UEFA Champions League Group A
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paris St Germain | 6 | 15 |
| 2 | FC Porto | 6 | 13 |
| 3 | Dynamo Kiev | 6 | 5 |
| 4 | Dinamo Zagreb | 6 | 1 |
UEFA Champions League Group B
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Schalke | 6 | 12 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 6 | 10 |
| 3 | Olympiakos FC | 6 | 9 |
| 4 | Montpellier | 6 | 2 |
UEFA Champions League Group C
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malaga | 6 | 12 |
| 2 | AC Milan | 6 | 8 |
| 3 | Zenit St. Petersburg | 6 | 7 |
| 4 | Anderlecht | 6 | 5 |
UEFA Champions League Group D
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Borussia Dortmund | 6 | 14 |
| 2 | Real Madrid | 6 | 11 |
| 3 | Ajax | 6 | 4 |
| 4 | Manchester City | 6 | 3 |
UEFA Champions League Group E
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Juventus | 6 | 12 |
| 2 | Shakhtar Donetsk | 6 | 10 |
| 3 | Chelsea | 6 | 10 |
| 4 | FC Nordsjaelland | 6 | 1 |
UEFA Champions League Group F
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bayern Munich | 6 | 13 |
| 2 | Valencia | 6 | 13 |
| 3 | BATE Borisov | 6 | 6 |
| 4 | Lille | 6 | 3 |
UEFA Champions League Group G
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barcelona | 6 | 13 |
| 2 | Celtic | 6 | 10 |
| 3 | Benfica | 6 | 8 |
| 4 | Spartak Moscow | 6 | 3 |
UEFA Champions League Group H
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester United | 6 | 12 |
| 2 | Galatasaray | 6 | 10 |
| 3 | CFR Cluj-Napoca | 6 | 10 |
| 4 | Braga | 6 | 3 |
