By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- The 2022/23 Champions League campaign is the biggest challenge in the competition's history, said Bayern Munich chairman Oliver Kahn.
"We finish the group stage as early as mid-November and then things start again after the Qatar World Cup," the 53-year-old former German keeper said, while his club delivered a perfect start in their curtain-raiser, beating Inter Milan 2-0.
"It is a special season but it remains our most important goal to perform in the Champions League," Kahn added.
The Bavarians increased their squad size to meet the unusual requirements of the season interrupted by the FIFA World Cup, to be played from November 20 to December 18.
Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer called the Champions League the club's most important goal as last season's disappointing quarterfinal defeat against Villareal remains a delicate topic for the Bavarians.
In that respect, Bayern's 19th consecutive victory in an opening game and the well-oiled performance of the man of the match, Leroy Sane, only stands for a side-effect and delivers no reason to pause.
The forward not only scored the first goal but triggered the second, an own goal by Danilo, with an irresistible run and sharp crossing.
Unlike the clash against Inter Milan, next week's duel against Barcelona and former Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski will remind the German side of an unpleasant memory.
The 34-year-old Lewandowski continued his goal hunt by delivering three more, with the Spaniards crushing group underdogs Viktoria Plzen 5-1.
"I am looking forward to meeting him; maybe not as a striker in our opponents' shirt, but as a great character," Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann stated.
The clash against Barca next Tuesday evening in the Munich Arena might be another tricky one out of the multiple challenges this season.
Lewandowski's hat-trick stands for a Champions League record, as he became the first player in the competition's history to score three goals in a single game for three clubs.
A tortured smile went over the face of Bayern coach Nagelsmann when he said: "We don't need special preparation for Robert, our players know him well." ■
