Bayern Munich concede Bundesliga title
President Franz Beckenbauer appears to have written off Bayern Munich's chances of retaining the Bundesliga title just seven matches into the season.
Last year's runaway champions find themselves down in 12th place and a massive 13 points off the pace set by surprise leaders Mainz following a disappointing start to the domestic campaign.
"Bayern can hardly win the championship any longer. But we can still finish between the top three and five," Beckenbauer told Sport-Bild.
"We have to make sure that the gap doesn't get bigger by the winter break."
Meanwhile, Bayern are set for another clash with the Dutch Football Federation over an injury sustained by midfield hardman Mark van Bommel.
Van Bommel returned to Bayern after international duty with a knee injury which the German giants claim was apparent before he featured in the Euro 2012 qualifier with Sweden on Tuesday evening.
A statement from Bayern read: “On Wednesday Bayern doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt examined van Bommel, establishing that the player had sustained ruptured tissues and extensive bruising to his right knee in a Euro 2012 qualifier against Moldova last Friday.
“However, he still appeared for the first 72 minutes of his country’s meeting with Sweden on Tuesday night.
“Prior to that match, the Bayern board had called on the Dutch FA (KNVB) to send van Bommel back to Munich immediately for treatment. This was refused by KNVB officials.
Van Bommel is set to be sidelined for around a fortnight, with striker Miroslav Klose also out for a similar time due to a hamstring strain picked up in Germany’s 3-0 win in Kazakhstan.
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