Soccer-European form setting standard for Bayern Munich

BERLIN, Sep 28 (Reuters) Bayern Munich are eager to start building a lead in the Bundesliga after proving their ability to cope without Michael Ballack in a 2-0 win away to Inter Milan.

Yesterday's impressive victory, which followed a 4-0 win at home to Spartak Moscow, put Bayern in control of Champions League Group B.

It came despite the absence of Owen Hargreaves, the England midfielder who is out with a broken leg, and of course Ballack, who left to join Chelsea after last season.

Bayern's best midfielder yesterday was Andreas Ottl, making his Champions League debut, and the 21-year-old's partnership with Mark van Bommel showed great promise.

Bayern are also top of the Bundesliga, ahead of Schalke 04 on goals scored, but no one could claim their domestic performances have been convincing.

They have scratched their way to three wins, a draw and a defeat from five matches so far, against generally modest opposition.

Their next game is away to bottom club VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday and captain Oliver Kahn expects them to show their true colours in the league at last.

''An away win against a big club like Inter will do wonders for our self-belief,'' Kahn told reporters after the game in Milan.

''We've proved we can compete, and that we're a great team when we concentrate. We now have to confirm that against Wolfsburg.'' Coach Felix Magath said he was not surprised at how well Bayern had played but even he had hardly dreamed of coming away with a second straight victory.

''I knew we were in good shape, and that we'd see the real Bayern Munich in the Champions League,'' Magath said. ''We didn't come here expecting to win and that made it all the more satisfying.'' Bayern's next two Champions League matches are away and at home to Sporting Lisbon, who are second in the group with four points.

Reuters AB RN1710