Bundesliga Wrap: Dortmund, Leverkusen both beaten

Bayern Munich took a significant step closer to the Bundesliga title on Saturday, without even playing a domestic fixture.

Pep Guardiola's men - contesting the FIFA Club World Cup final in Morocco - will have been boosted by news from home that both Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen suffered league defeats against Hertha Berlin and Werder Bremen respectively.

The results leave Bayern seven points clear at the summit with a game in hand over their closest rivals.

Klopp hails Dortmund spirit

Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp praised his side's spirit after their 3-1 win over Mainz on Saturday.

The visitors took the lead at the Coface Arena through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and, although Maxim Choupo-Moting equalised from the spot, two Robert Lewandowski penalties secured Dortmund's victory.

Klopp had the likes of Mats Hummels, Neven Subotic and Marcel Schmelzer out with injury and was delighted with the character his side showed.

Schalke 04 express concern over Kevin Boateng long term fitness

German side Schalke 04 are concerned about the long-term fitness of Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng after he failed to finish the entire duration of their Uefa Champions League game against Chelsea last Tuesday.

Boateng had been in the treatment room since the international break but returned to play for the Royal Blues in their 3-0 battering by Schalke at the Veltins Arena.

The 26-year-old had not trained with Jens Keller’s men before the Chelsea game and told the manager during half-time he cannot finish the full 90 minutes.

Real Join Arsenal And United In Chase For Dortmund Star

Real Madrid have become the third high profile team to be linked with Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan as the chase to sign the Turkish international intensifies.

Arsenal and Manchester United have both been linked with Gundogan over the summer but will be joined by Spainish giants Real Madrid when the transfer window opens again in January, according to the Daily Star.

The article suggests that Real will make a £25million move for Gundogan and will hope to lure the Turk with their very own Nuri Sahin currently on loan at Dortmund.

I love giving everything for Dortmund, says Lewandowski

The Poland striker insists that he is enjoying his football and, despite wanting to move to the Allianz Arena next summer, will do all he can to help die Schwarzgelben this term.

Robert Lewandowski insists that he will continue to give his all for Borussia Dortmund - in spite of his desire to move to rivals Bayern Munich.

The Poland international scored twice on Saturday, adding to a double from Marco Reus and a Jakub Blaszczykowski strike, as die Schwarzgelben claimed an emphatic 5-0 win over Freiburg.

Klopp: Dortmund have learned from Napoli loss

The BVB boss believes his side are back to their best following a 5-0 win over Freiburg at Signal Iduna Park on Saturday.

Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp believes his side learned from their 2-1 Champions League loss to Napoli on September 18.

The Bundesliga giants had won all of their league games prior to their trip to the San Paolo, where goals from Gonzalo Higuain and Lorenzo Insigne consigned them to defeat.

Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal in the toughest group

Arsene Wenger says Arsenal are in the toughest UEFA Champions League group as they launch their campaign at Marseille on Wednesday night.

Napoli and Borussia Dortmund make up Group F and Wenger believes all four have a chance of making it into a knockout stages.

"If you look at the group, I would say yes it is the hardest group because all the four teams have a chance to qualify," said the Arsenal boss.

Aubameyang will always score, says Dortmund's Zorc

BVB's sporting director was blown away by the Gabonese international's debut and believes the striker is capable of producing goals week in, week out in the Bundesliga

Michael Zorc has lauded new-boy Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after the striker’s fairytale debut in Borussia Dortmund’s 4-0 win against Augsburg on Saturday.

The Gabon international, who arrived from Ligue 1 side Saint-Etienne at the beginning of the transfer window, netted a hat-trick in his inaugural Bundesliga match and Zorc was clearly impressed by Aubameyang’s sharpness when he spoke to Bild am Sonntag.

Bayern don't need Lewandowski, says Hitzfeld

The former FCB boss feels there's no room for the Poland international at the Champions League holders under new head coach Pep Guardiola

Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld believes Bayern Munich do not need Robert Lewandowski.

Last year's first choice striker Mario Mandzukic has struggled to secure regular first team action at Bayern during pre-season following the arrival of Guardiola and Hitzfeld thinks a similar scenario would have been on the cards for Lewandowski in the Bavarians' 'false nine' system.

Klopp: Guardiola will feel the heat at Bayern

The Dortmund trainer believes his colleague will be under pressure at the Allianz Arena and is confident Robert Lewandowski will continue to give his all for BVB

Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp has piled the pressure on Pep Guardiola to succeed at Bayern Munich following Jupp Heynckes' spectacular last season in charge.

Heynckes guided Bayern to a historic treble in 2012-13 and many expect them to continue their dominance under the former Barcelona coach following his record of 14 trophies in four years at the Catalan giants.

But Klopp insists it will not be easy being the 68-year-old's successor at the Allianz Arena.

"There could definitely be more appealing working circumstances for a coach. It was rather obvious that it would be like this, though," he was quoted as saying by Bild.

Klopp then went on to praise Guardiola's humble attitude and made it clear he thinks the Spaniard will do a good job at the Bundesliga champions.

"I think that we are all just happy that Pep himself arrived at his unveiling by foot and didn't come hovering into the press room.

"Pep is the most extraordinary coach that comes into mind. He's a very nice guy and incredibly successful. That's not a bad thing for Bayern.

"And the team did not exactly get any worse compared to last season. So one should expect them to do reasonably well."

The BVB coach also had his say on the situation of Robert Lewandowski, who had set his sights on a move to Bayern, but was denied a switch to Dortmund's rivals by club CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke.

"I don't have any fear that Robert will no longer give his all. He has said that he wanted a transfer and where he wanted to go. That didn't materialise, but things like that happen," he added.

"The way I know him, there's hardly anyone who is a better professional. It's completely normal that we will not all stay at BVB for the next 100 years.

"Robert is still young and has room for improvement. He can make steps forward at his age and we want to help him achieve this."

Lewandowski's contract with Dortmund expires in 2014 and is widely expected to leave the club for Bayern on a free transfer next year.