Borussia Dortmunds’s Surprise Pain is Music to Bayern Munichs’s Ears

In the penultimate game week of September, Bayern Munich and Eintracht Frankfurt continued their marches at the head of the Bundesliga bunch. The pair capitalised on the capitulation of their fellow foes near the head of the German top flight, clearing daylight between them and their contenders.

Armin Veh’s underdogs began the weekend with a Friday fixture at Nuremburg, who had already managed to prevent title holders, Borussia Dortmund, from taking all three points at the Stadion Nürnberg. However, Eintracht proved their inspirational start to the season may be more than a simple blip with a 2-1 win. Goals from Erwin Hoffer and Takashi Inui led the second placed side to their fourth consecutive victory while Sebastian Polter grabbed a late consolation for the hosts.
Der FCB by no means had an easy fixture of their own either, but managed to take make the most of Saturday’s trip to the Veltins-Arena. Schalke 04 managed to restrain Jupp Heynckes’ men for the first half, but their resolve was broken in the second half when Toni Kroos and Thomas Müller netted in the 55^th and 58^th minutes, respectively. Bayern remain at the top of the table, but only hold a goal difference advantage over Eintracht Frankfurt.

Soccer-Bundesliga roundup-Huntelaar doubtful against Bayern

Soccer-Bundesliga roundup-Huntelaar doubtful against Bayern BERLIN, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Brief news ahead of this weekend's Bundesliga soccer matches: * Schalke 04's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Jermaine Jones could miss their Bundesliga match at home to leaders Bayern Munich on Saturday with the former suffering from a cold and the U.S. international still nursing an ankle injury. Huntelaar, last season's top Bundesliga scorer who also grabbed the winner in their 2-1 Champions League victory at Olympiakos on Tuesday, missed training along with Jones on Thursday. "It will be tight getting them ready to Saturday," coach Huub Stevens told reporters. ...

Bayern Munich defender Philipp Lahm: Dortmund are favourites

Bayern Munich defender Philipp Lahm has admitted that back-to-back Bundesliga champions Dortmund are favourites for the title this season, despite his club's standing in Germany.

GettyImagesDortmund celebrate their title win

Bayern, the most successful side in German history, have brought in the likes of Xherdan Shaqiri, Mario Mandzukic and Claudio Pizarro to try to get the Bundesliga trophy back again from a Dortmund team who are targeting 2012-13 Champions League qualification as their main aim.

"Dortmund are advisedly activity moderate, and let's tackling it, it's served them rise over the inalterable two seasons. I actually talked about this with [Borussia Dortmund presidency] Reinhard Rauball," Lahm told Bayern's authoritative website.

Robben: Bayern 'hungry' for silverware

Robben: Bayern 'hungry' for silverware

Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben believes that his side are determined to win silverware again, following a season in which they finished runners-up in three major competitions.

PA PhotosRobben endured a torrid end to the 2011-12 campaign

Robben, 28, arrived in China on Monday as Bayern continue their pre-season campaign with fixtures scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday.

The Dutchman, who was part of the Netherlands squad which disappointed at Euro 2012, already feels an increased desire for success among his colleagues.

"We have put a season behind us in which we were so close to winning every title, yet we did not win anything in the end,'' Robben told reporters.

"That makes you even more hungry for titles. We want to put that right. I can already feel that the team has the will, even if many of our important players have not been in training yet because of their holidays after Euro 2012.''

Alaba and Rafinha injured

Bayern Munich duo David Alaba and Rafinha suffered injuries during Friday's 3-2 friendly defeat to Napoli.

GettyImagesDavid Alaba receives treatment after suffering an injury during the friendly defeat to Napoli

Alaba, 20, is foretold to lack six to viii weeks after hurt a articulate cracking, tho' he module undergo far tests on Weekday. Full-back Rafinha, meanwhile, tore ankle ligaments and is possible to be out for four to team weeks.

The two somebody not been included in the squad for the trip to China on Dominicus, time coach Jupp Heynckes said Deutschland duo Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger testament also stay at place to immersion on "structure up their condition".

Despite the setbacks, Heynckes was drawing the positives from the Napoli informal.