UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PLAY-OFFS, SECOND LEGS:BAYERN MUNICH cantered into the Champions League group stages after a 1-0 victory at FC Zurich while two goals from Giuseppe Rossi rescued Villarreal against Odense.
Former European Cup winners Bayern, who will host the final at their Allianz Arena stadium in May, never looked in danger after Mario Gomez’s seventh-minute goal completed a 3-0 aggregate win in their play-off against the Swiss side.
Villarreal, with a 1-0 first-leg deficit against Danes Odense, struggled to break the deadlock until Rossi scored twice in 16 minutes in the second half and Carlos Marchena added a third to seal a 3-0 win on the night.
Dinamo Zagreb progressed 4-3 on aggregate despite losing 2-0 at Sweden’s Malmo, who like Odense had never qualified for the Champions League proper.
Wisla Krakow, another side hoping to make their debut, were also thwarted as they lost 3-1 at APOEL Nicosia and were beaten 3-2 overall.
Ailton scored twice for the Cypriot side including the decisive goal in the 87th minute.
Racing Genk made it through to the group stages following a penalty shoot-out. Their match at home to Maccabi Haifa went into extra-time when the Belgians led 2-1 after normal time, the Israelis having won the first leg by the same score.
There were no goals in extra-time and Genk eventually prevailed 4-1 on penalties.
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique will miss this week’s European Super Cup meeting with Porto due to a calf injury. The World Cup winner tore a muscle in his left leg in training and will be out for three weeks.
