Bayern Munich's pre-season injury problems

German giants FC Bayern Munich, after two seasons without a title, are preparing for a season in which the Bavarians can lift at least one trophy after only finishing second last season in three competitions – UEFA Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup. The main aim is to win back the Bundesliga title, which in the last seasons has been won by Borussia Dortmund.

The club has brought in a number of players to strengthen the overall squad, but now, weeks into the pre-season, there are injury worries to numerous players which has weakened the team.The latest to join the casualty list were Mario Gomez and Bastian Schweinsteiger over the weekend at the Liga Total Cup in Hamburg, joining David Alaba, Rafinha, Diego Contento and Claudio Pizarro.

The injury to Mario Gomez could hit the club especially hard, as last season, he scored 26 goals in the Bundesliga alone. The striker is out with a foot injury and could miss upto three Bundesliga games. A potential replacement in seasoned Claudio Pizarro, who returned to Munich from Werder Bremen, is also out with hip problems leaving new Croatian striker Mario Mandzukic alone upfront.

Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger is hoping for a better second half of 2012 after numerous injuries and failures, but again the Germany star is out with muscular problems. It is not known when he will be back.

Further, the three full-backs David Alaba, Rafinha and Diego Contento are out. Young Alaba suffered a fatigue fracture, Rafinha has torn his ligaments while Diego Contento has bone problems.

The injuries have forced coach Jupp Heynckes to try out new combinations, with Bayern facing Borussia Dortmund in the German Super Cup this weekend and the Bundesliga kicking-off a week later.