FC Bayern: Christian Lell's Dog, Thomas Muller's Contract and Much More

FC Bayern's test drive turned out to be successful to begin with.

This is why:

Bayern 3-0 Mainz

Any chance of an upset there?

Nah! Bayern started the game with a small contest of their own as usual: Who is going to miss more chances during the game? There isn't a specific answer as almost everybody had a crack at goal and Hans Jorg Butt even managed to miss a penalty and get away with it.

The deadlock was finally broken close to the hour mark by Daniel Van Buyten. He headed in from an Arjen Robben cross. The ball passed rather comically through the Mainz keeper, Heinz Muller's legs into the back of the net. The second goal came soon after through Mario Gomez. Arjen Robben played a pass to Philipp Lahm on the right who played another simple looking exquisite pass to Mario Gomez. Gomez then simply side footed the ball into the net.

All six feet and three inches of Gomez then celebrated with Philipp Lahm...Hmmm. The third goal was scored by Arjen Robben from a freekick. The ball didn't take a deflection. It didn't curl either. It just went straight to the back of the net. Robben then celebrated with Louis Van Gaal...again.

Christian Lell's Dog and Arjen Robben's Tights

On the field, it is rare to see Christian Lell play, even as a sub. Off the field, however, he has made himself heard. German tabloid Bild recently published an article stating that Lell had won a lawsuit against his former girlfriend about his dog. He no longer has to share the dog and is now the sole owner of the pet.

Arjen Robben has been told by the DFB that he will have to change the colour of his tights from white to the colour of his Bayern shorts. Robben's wife already told him off about the tights and now, even the DFB are taking action against it.

Transfer and Contract News

Edson Braafheid has moved to Celtic for a loan spell for six months. Van Gaal decided that the Dutchman he had personally brought into the club wasn't good enough for Die Roten. Mehmet Ekici has signed a professional contract with Bayern.

Daniel Van Buyten has extended his contract with Bayern upto 2012. Thomas Muller has signed an extension through to 2013 while Holger Badstuber has signed one up to 2014. Looking ahead to the club's future, the decisions to extend the contracts of Badstuber and Muller are definitely brilliant ones.

Bayern may have won but Leverkusen aren't prepared to give in just yet. They recorded a comfortable 3-1 victory in their game against Freiburg. The last time Jupp Heynckes and Van Gaal competed was in Spain. That season, Van Gaal beat Jeynckes by claiming the title with Barcelona over Real Madrid.

This season, it could be Heynckes' turn...