Bayern the underdogs

Bayern Munich are not used to being underdogs, but that is the role they must put up with in tonight's European Cup semi-final first- leg tie against Ajax in Bavaria.

The German champions' captain, Lothar Matthus, and the French World Cup striker, Jean-Pierre Papin, are both long-term casualties. The man hired to fill in for Papin, the Bulgarian international Emil Kostadinov, has just been ruled out for six weeks with knee ligament damage. With their third-choice custodian, Uwe Gospodarek, in goal, Bayern are up against it against the Dutchmen, who are at full strength apart from the midfielder Edgar Davids, who has undergone an eye operation.

In the other semi-final at Parc des Princes, Paris St-Germain welcome back their captain, Alain Roche, and the Brazilian, Ricardo, against Milan, the defending champions.

n David Seaman intends to keep goal for Arsenal in tomorrow's Cup-Winners' Cup semi-final first leg at home to Sampdoria after having pain-killing injections to treat his cracked rib.