Festive fun, but focus still on football

Bayern's last footballing appointment of 2012 is on Tuesday, when the 15-time DFB Cup winners travel to Augsburg determined to round off a superb first half of the 2012/13 campaign and make the quarter-finals of this season's competition. “But we'll have to dig deep and give our all one last time," declared club captain Philipp Lahm on Saturday evening at the Käfer-Alm hostelry. The Germany international was addressing some 200 invited guests at the club Christmas party, as the gathering enjoyed a festive dinner and raised a glass to an outstanding season so far.

“The club is in superb financial shape and we can be very satisfied with 2012," said Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, “but we must remain concentrated, focused and full of flair as we pursue our biggest target, the German championship, in the second half of the season." In his speech, the chairman reflected on “an eventful year with highs and lows," but concluded that everyone involved had “learned the right lessons" from the previous season.