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Heynckes: Top spot not a priority

SoccerNews in La Liga 4 Dec 2012

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Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes believes it may not be important for his side to finish top of their Champions League group.

The Bundesliga leaders head into Wednesday’s clash against BATE Borisov knowing a win would assure them top spot in Group F.

Heynckes said whether his team was seeded or not for the round of 16 could mean little, with the likes of AC Milan and Real Madrid certain to finish second in their groups.

“Usually winning the group is the objective of a team and of a trainer,” he said on Tuesday.

“This time – if you have a look on the other group’s tables – you can see that even finishing second can be not so bad.

“But we cannot calculate now what would be better. We will see after our match and after the draw.”

Along with AC Milan and Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal and Juventus could also finish second in their groups.

Bayern captain Philipp Lahm said he was eager to finish top of the group and avoid the likes of Barcelona in the last 16.

“There are not easy opponents in the knockout stages of the Champions League. There is no easy job once you are into the next round,” Lahm said.

“Of course we don’t want to play immediately against teams like Barcelona.

“And the fact to play the first leg away and then the second leg home is good and our recent past showed that.

“What we will do is play tomorrow and try to win to be first in our group, then we will think about our next opponents.”

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