PARIS - Continental giants Bayern Munich and Arsenal enter the Champions League at the play-off stage this week knowing that failure to reach the competition's lucrative group stage is unthinkable.
Arsenal's failure to finish higher than fourth in last season's Premier League came back to haunt them when they were drawn to face Serie A surprise package Udinese in their two-legged play-off.
The London club have endured a difficult summer marred by speculation surrounding the futures of star duo Cesc Fabregas, who sealed a deal with Barcelona late on Sunday, and Samir Nasri. Fan concerns were hardly eased by their team's performance in drawing 0-0 at Newcastle on the opening day of the Premier League season.
The Gunners can draw some comfort from the fact that the Udinese squad that lit up Italy last season has since been weakened by the departures of Chilean winger Alexis Sanchez, Colombian defender Cristian Zapata and Swiss midfielder Gokhan Inler.
Nevertheless, the pressure is on Arsene Wenger's side to claim a positive result in today's first leg at the Emirates Stadium before travelling to Italy for the return.
The pressure is arguably even greater on four-time European champions Bayern Munich as they prepare to take on FC Zurich.
Jupp Heynckes has endured an unconvincing start to his latest spell in charge of the Bavarians, but with this season's Champions League final being held at Munich's Allianz Arena they are targeting a run all the way to the final.
Lyon are hoping to take their place in the group stage for the 12th consecutive season, but with the French club going through a period of transition, they could scarcely have asked for a tougher draw than Rubin Kazan of Russia. Lyon need a good result at the Stade de Gerland before the return leg in Tatarstan, and new coach Remi Garde is upbeat despite seeing his side struggle to a 1-1 draw against unfancied Ajaccio in Ligue 1 on Saturday.
Villarreal, fourth in Spain's Primera Liga last season, are favourites to beat Odense of Denmark.
Gunners and Bayern have to fire
PARIS - Continental giants Bayern Munich and Arsenal enter the Champions League at the play-off stage this week knowing that failure to reach the competition's lucrative group stage is unthinkable.
Arsenal's failure to finish higher than fourth in last season's Premier League came back to haunt them when they were drawn to face Serie A surprise package Udinese in their two-legged play-off.
The London club have endured a difficult summer marred by speculation surrounding the futures of star duo Cesc Fabregas, who sealed a deal with Barcelona late on Sunday, and Samir Nasri. Fan concerns were hardly eased by their team's performance in drawing 0-0 at Newcastle on the opening day of the Premier League season.
The Gunners can draw some comfort from the fact that the Udinese squad that lit up Italy last season has since been weakened by the departures of Chilean winger Alexis Sanchez, Colombian defender Cristian Zapata and Swiss midfielder Gokhan Inler.
Nevertheless, the pressure is on Arsene Wenger's side to claim a positive result in today's first leg at the Emirates Stadium before travelling to Italy for the return.
The pressure is arguably even greater on four-time European champions Bayern Munich as they prepare to take on FC Zurich.
Jupp Heynckes has endured an unconvincing start to his latest spell in charge of the Bavarians, but with this season's Champions League final being held at Munich's Allianz Arena they are targeting a run all the way to the final.
Lyon are hoping to take their place in the group stage for the 12th consecutive season, but with the French club going through a period of transition, they could scarcely have asked for a tougher draw than Rubin Kazan of Russia. Lyon need a good result at the Stade de Gerland before the return leg in Tatarstan, and new coach Remi Garde is upbeat despite seeing his side struggle to a 1-1 draw against unfancied Ajaccio in Ligue 1 on Saturday.
Villarreal, fourth in Spain's Primera Liga last season, are favourites to beat Odense of Denmark.
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