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Bayern not harming Bundesliga

Dusseldorf - Bayern Munich's dominance of the German Bundesliga is not affecting the league's attraction for fans, most managers and coaches say in a survey by dpa.

Nearly all those asked believe the Bundesliga has not become boring as a result of Bayern's 11-point lead over the nearest side Wolfsburg as the league resumes on Friday.

Bayern seem on their way to a third successive league title but the Bundesliga continues to have the world's best average match attendances and last season posted record revenues for the 10th season in a row.

Bayern are 30 points ahead of 2011 and 2012 champions Borussia Dortmund, the team expected to be their chief rivals who are now languishing in 17th place.

"In Germany there are no co-favourites any more. That is unfortunately how it is," Dortmund chief executive Joachim Watzke said.

"There is one team now winning the championship, and this will stay the case in the next five years."

Mainz general manager Christian Heidel said if Bayern remained champions over a long period "I don't think that will be good for the league."

However most of the 18 top-flight clubs questioned believe the Bundesliga is no less attractive as a result of record champions Bayern's massive superiority.

"The league's attraction is unbroken. People are going to all the stadiums," Eintracht Frankfurt chairman Heribert Bruchhagen said.

German Football League (DFL) chief executive Christian Seifert said: "All the facts point to the league not being more boring."

Stuttgart's Dutch coach Huub Stevens said: "It is not damaging for the Bundesliga if one team is totally dominant. This is something that has often happened in other European leagues in past years."

Other coaches believe Bayern's strength is a positive factor for the league and a model for their own clubs.

"Bayern are so strong, that's just a fact," Freiburg coach Christian Streich said.

"It is good for the Bundesliga to have a team like this - even if for the spectators it might not be so exciting."

Augsburg coach Markus Weinzierl said Bayern were "the be-all and end-all" and "it's up to the other clubs to catch up bit by bit."

Hertha Berlin coach Jos Luuhukay said Bayern "are good for the Bundesliga" and for every opponent a match against them was "both a festive day and a challenge."

SV Hamburg coach Josef Zinnbauer said: "The Bundesliga is one of the most attractive products there is. All the teams have the opportunity to get closer to Bayern.

"We can't rail against Bayern but have to try to work just as well as they do."

Bayern - who could extend their lead to 14 points when they visit Wolfsburg on Friday - meanwhile say nothing has been won yet.

"We have a lead of 11 points - that's three matches," coach Pep Guardiola said.

"Therefore we have to win 14 of the last 17 games. 14! Not just one or two."

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