Bayern adjusting to life among the European also-rans

BERLIN, Sep 7 (Reuters) Bayern Munich are in a league of their own in Germany but the Bavarians are having to get used to the idea of being among the underdogs in Europe.

Bayern won the most recent of their four European crowns as recently as 2001 but since then they have failed to get beyond the quarter-finals.

Michael Ballack has left to join Chelsea and club bosses have written off their chances of winning the Champions League again this season.

German clubs receive a fraction of the television money now available to clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona in Spain, and Bayern refuse to pay the sky-high money on offer to players, such as Ballack, in England.

Their experience and strength should see them at least advance to the knockout round but there will be no easy matches in a group that comprises Inter Milan, Sporting and ambitious Spartak Moscow.

Club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was perhaps being unduly pessimistic when he said recently: ''Our goal will be to get through the opening phase of the Champions League. I really don't think we have a chance against a club like Barcelona now.'' Bayern, obviously, will be aiming higher than that after making a couple of significant additions to their squad.

Centre back Daniel van Buyten was recruited for 10 million euros (12.82 million dollars) from Bundesliga rivals Hamburg SV and his partnership with the Brazilian Lucio already looks very solid.

Bayern spent a similar amount to bring in Lukas Podolski from relegated Cologne and the Germany striker, voted as the best young player at the World Cup finals, has the potential to become a great European goalscorer.

How well equipped they are to go further than the group phase could depend on the new central midfield partnership.

Bayern decided to hang on to Owen Hargreaves rather than let him move to Manchester United and much will be expected of the England international this season.

Coach Felix Magath is likely to play Hargreaves alongside Mark van Bommel, the Dutch international brought in to replace Ballack.

Van Bommel failed to win a regular place in the starting lineup at Barcelona but competition for places will be less severe at Bayern and a good, long run in the side might just see him rediscover the good form he showed at PSV Eindhoven.

There is certainly potential there for Bayern this season.

If Van Buyten, Podolski and Van Bommel play as well as they can, those comments from Rummenigge may come to seem like false modesty.

REUTERS PDS PC1726