Dortmund remain modest, Munich kiss title goodbye (News Feature)

By John Bagratuni Dec 6, 2010, 5:01 GMT

Berlin - Runaway leaders Borussia Dortmund are happy to have avoided relegation and Bayern Munich have kissed the Bundesliga title goodbye.

Dortmund improved to a Bundesliga record 40 points after 15 games on Sunday night. They hold a massive 10-point lead at the top but refuse to be drawn into title speculations.

Forty points are generally seen as good enough to stay in the league at the end of the season, and defender Mats Hummels was happy enough to talk about it after the latest scoop, a 2-0 victory in Nuremberg on Sunday.

'We have now officially avoided relegation,' said Hummels.

Coach Juergen Klopp admitted only that Dortmund were 'probably' among the title contenders.

'So far we are only playing a successful season and we hope to continue that way,' Klopp said.

But the coach also said that 'this team has a unique mentality,' which appears not the case at the reigning champions Munich who are 17 points behind Dortmund in midtable after an unnecessary 2-0 defeat at Schalke 04 on Saturday.

'Congratulations Dortmund! Schalke delivers Munich title knockout,' said the Bild daily on its website on Sunday even before Dortmund prevailed 2-0 in Nuremberg later in the day.

Dortmund stretched their unbeaten run to 14 from 15 season games with the latest success and are assured of first place into 2011 through the four-week winter break which starts in a fortnight.

The 40 points from 15 games also beats Munich's record of 38 at the same stage five years ago.

'Dortmund are playing like champions. If they continue like this they deserve the title,' former Munich captain Stefan Effenberg told Sky TV on Sunday night.

Dortmund have scoring freely and dropped the least goals for a 37- 9 record. Munich, by contrast, have managed just 23 goals and let in 17 after wasting half a dozen top chances again at Schalke.

'It's quite unbelievable. If we play that well, we have to win ­ but we've not won. We created lots of chances, clear-cut chances. But the players have to put them away. I cant score the goals myself,' said Munich coach Louis van Gaal after the Schalke setback.

'Goals are always the most important factor in a match, and we've seen it again today. If you dont score your goals, you lose.'

Munich are expected to welcome influential Dutch winger Arjen Robben back in January after he missed the entire first half of the season through injury. But even his return will probably not be good enough to mount a comeback right to the top.

Players and officials are now out for damage control, meaning second or third place for a chance to play Champions League again.

'All that counts is that we fight for the Champions League because that's where Bayern Munich belong,' said right back Philipp lahm.

Van Gaal agreed: 'If we are realistic we have to set our sights in second and third place. We are not mounting the pressure on Dortmund, and Mainz aren't either. Then it will be easy for Dortmund.'

Second-placed Mainz lost ground from a 2-1 defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt. That result was good news for Munich because a seven-point deficit is possible to be made up in 19 remaining games. Bayer Leverkusen are third with six points more than Munich.

Mainz, Hanover and Freiburg have played surprisingly well so far to rank ahead of Munich and it remains to be seen if they can keep up the level in the second half of the season.

Dortmund must also further deliver but Juergen Klopp's team has been on such a roll that total disaster appears all but impossible.

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