Beer flows as Bayern kick back at Oktoberfest

After claiming their 11th straight clean-sheet in all competitions, record-breakers Bayern Munich kicked back on Sunday by taking part in the Bavarian capital's Oktoberfest beer festival.Bayern's goalless draw at Hoffenheim on Saturday in the German league means they have gone 1,018 minutes without conceding a goal, a new club record, and their goal difference of plus 20 after eight games is a Bundesliga record."We have worked hard in recent weeks and months, so we deserve a bit of a reward," said Bayern captain Philipp Lahm.Players, wives and girlfriends, wearing traditional German costume, supped from litre glasses of beer as they enjoyed sweltering temperatures in the south German city in one of the many enormous beer tents.After six games in three weeks, Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes said his team had deserved some down time."They deserve it, they are professional and they know exactly what they can and can't do," he said.Having beaten Manchester City 2-0 at home last Tuesday in the Champions League, Bayern were jaded at Hoffenheim and midfielder Thomas Mueller admitted the team had been below-par."We were pretty much on our last legs and were a bit flat when we travelled," said Mueller.France winger Franck Ribery came off at half-time because of a calf problem."We didn't want to risk him tearing the muscle," said Heynckes.Brazil defender Rafinha pulled out after injuring his groin during the warm-up and Germany star Holger Badstuber played despite suffering from 'flu."We wouldn't normally have played," said Heynckes.With international matches due to take place this weekend, Bayern are not in action again until they host Hertha Berlin in the German league on October 15 and then face Napoli three days later in the Champions League.

Source: AFP