Hoeness cautious as Bayern savour rare away win

Bayern Munich striker Paolo Guerrero celebrates after scoring against Rapid Vienna. Bayern Munich may have won their last 13 matches in the Bundesliga but they made hard work of defeating Vienna 1-0 in their opening Champions League match.

Bayern Munich may have won their last 13 matches in the Bundesliga but they made hard work of defeating Rapid Vienna 1-0 in their opening Champions League group A match.

Peruvian international Paolo Guerrero scored the decisive goal on the hour mark after Rapid goalkeeper Helge Payer brilliantly stopped Roy Makaay's goalbound effort.

Hosts Rapid had several chances to level in the Austrian capital and Jozef Valachovic compounded their frustration by missing a penalty in the 81st minute.

"I said in the build up to this match that the Bundesliga is completely different to the Champions League," explained Bayern captain Oliver Kahn.

"We have not tended to be great away from home in the Champions League and were anxious at the beginning."

Before the match Bayern had won just one of their last 16 Champions League outings - a 1-0 triumph at Maccabi Tel Aviv last season - and so were relieved to come away with the points.

"It was a successful evening for us," said Bayern manager Felix Magath. "Vienna is not an easy place to come and win but we managed to do just that."

After winning their first four games of the season to top the Bundesliga many expected Bayern to swat Rapid aside but general manager Uli Hoeness fears complacency could be setting in.

"The great atmosphere in the camp is dangerous," said Hoeness. "Everyone is hugging one another and offering praise. That is not good for performances."

Rapid missed a glorious chance to take a point when they were awarded a penalty nine minutes from time and manager Josef Hickensberger was left bemoaning Valachovic's woeful spot-kick.

"It was so poorly taken that even if it was on target Sepp Maier would have saved it," said Hickensberger.

Maier used to play in goal for Bayern and Germany but is now 62 and retired.

England international Owen Hargreaves, one of six players remaining from Bayern's 2001 success, acknowledges the bar must be raised if Bayern are to compete for the title.

"We played okay but there is a lot of room for improvement," said Hargreaves.

The German media concurred, claiming the German champions were tired and lucky to net the three points.

"Guerrero strike saves tired Bayern," headlined daily Bild. "Playing like this will not be enough to get close to winning the Champions League."

Bayern host Club Brugge at the Allianz Arena in their next Champions League match on September 27.