Football: Bayern's positive message to United

THE Bayern Munich coach, Ottmar Hitzfield, promised that his team would not play for a draw when they visit Manchester United in search of the point they need to qualify for the next stage of the European Cup.

After beating Brondby 2-0 last night in Group D of the Champions' League to set up the showdown at Old Trafford on 9 December, Hitzfield insisted: "We can't play for a 0-0. Manchester are far too good at home to do that."

Second-half goals from Carsten Jancker and Mario Basler gave Bayern the win over the Danish champions, putting the German club one point ahead of United with one game to play. Bayern, facing competition for the Munich public's attention from Lionel Ritchie in a nearby concert hall, looked like they could have played all night without scoring, but improved after the break.

In Group C Roberto Baggio came on as a late substitute and scored twice in the last 10 minutes, one goal coming four minutes into injury time, to give Internazionale a 3-1 win over the European champions, Real Madrid. Baggio replaced the Chilean striker Ivan Zamorano after 68 minutes with the score at 1-1 and Inter's future in the competition looking bleak. Inter took the lead early in the second half through Zamorano before Clarence Seedorf equalised.

The Netherlands champions, Ajax, could be on the way out after losing 1-0 to Croatia Zagreb, who scored through substitute Josip Simic.

Olympiakos, of Greece, are now three points clear in Group A after a 2-1 win over Porto. Barring a disaster in their last game, against the second-placed Croatians, on 9 December they should qualify for the quarter-finals.