Bayern grab late win

The German champions, losing finalists to Internazionale in last season's Champions League final, recovered from a sluggish opening period to dominate the second half of the Group E opener at the Allianz Arena.

They went ahead when Muller slammed a stunning low volley past Roma keeper Julio Sergio from the edge of the box on 79 minutes.

Substitute Klose ensured Bayern all three points when he flicked home Holger Badstuber's free-kick seven minutes from time.

This was the first time that Bayern and Roma have clashed in the Champions League, while Bayern eliminated Roma from the 1985 Cup Winners' Cup at the quarter-final stage.

Louis van Gaal's side managed to dispose of Juventus and Fiorentina on their way to reaching last season's final, but they found Roma stodgy opponents in the first half as the Italians played the accepted European counter-attacking game to some effect.

The three best moments of a forgettable opening 45 minutes all fell to the Italian visitors.

Marco Borriello saw a header blocked by the home defence in the fifth minute before Bayern goalkeeper Hans-Jorg Butt dived to claw Marco Cassetti's shot past a post six minutes later.

Butt was again called on to halt a Borriello shot that deflected off the towering Belgium defender Daniel van Buyten before Bayern finally found their range in the second period.

The besieged Julio Sergio was the centre of attention as made fine stops to deny Muller and Toni Kroos within minutes of each other before the hour mark as Bayern pressed for the opener with typical intensity.

Klose, on for Hamit Altintop after 67 minutes, nudged a shot wide with Muller crying out to be supplied in space.

The imposing Bastian Schweinsteiger then walloped over from distance with Julio Sergio beaten on 74 minutes, but Roma's luck would soon run out.

Klose saw a looping header hit a post before Muller pounced by converting a fabulous swerving volley from Van Buyten's intelligent, cushioned header into his path.

Butt was called on to save from Borriello's shot a couple of minutes later, but Bayern recovered from that rare Roma attack to finalise a merited win.

Badstuber threw a free-kick into the area and Klose reacted quickest to divert it into the gaping net with Julio Sergio heading in the other direction.

Roma coach Claudio Ranieri will take comfort from seeing a vast improvement from the 5-1 loss to Cagliari in Serie A on Saturday, but he will be aware that his side are now facing a three-way fight with Cluj and Basel to reach the last 16 of the tournament.