European Football: Robson's slow start

BOBBY ROBSON, the former England manager, failed to wave an instant magic wand in his first game in charge of Sporting Lisbon on Saturday. The Portuguese club, who have turned to Robson as they challenge Porto, the champions, and their city rivals Benfica for honours, were held to a 0-0 draw in their opening game by humble Tirsense, writes Rupert Metcalf.

'If you don't score goals you don't win a match, so you suffer,' a disappointed Robson said. The main culprit in front of goal was Sporting's new Polish striker, Andrzej Juskowiak. The top scorer at the Olympic Games, he failed to maintain his Barcelona form, missing several good chances.

After last season's tribulations, Bayern Munich are enjoying happier times: they lead the German Bundesliga with the only 100 per cent record after two games. Bruno Labbadia scored Saturday's winner against Kaiserslautern, the 1991 champions.

Bayern may have Lothar Matthaus back in their midfield before long - they are close to completing a deal to bring Germany's 1990 World Cup-winning captain home from Internazionale of Milan. VfB Stuttgart, the current title- holders who face Leeds in the European Cup next month, beat Nuremberg 3-0.

Jurgen Klinsmann, another German Italia '90 hero, scored his third goal for Monaco in a 3-1 win over Nimes; while his predecessor in Monaco's front line, George Weah, hit two goals in a 4-0 success over Strasbourg which kept Paris St Germain at the top of the French league.