Refs must do more to protect Bayern stars - Rummenigge

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge wants referees to give their stars more protection after Corentin Tolisso and Rafinha both suffered long-term injuries at the weekend.

Bayern flew to Portugal ahead of their opening Champions League group stage game at Benfica on Wednesday without World Cup winning France midfielder Tolisso or right-back Rafinha.

Tolisso, 24, tore the cruciate ligament in his right knee following a tackle by Kevin Volland after scoring a superb goal in Bayern's 3-1 home win against Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday and is expected to be out for months.

It was Tolisso's first start of the season.

Rafinha, 33, is also set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after tearing ankle ligaments from a stamp on his heel by Leverkusen winger Karim Bellarabi, who was sent off for the foul and banned for four games.

Bayern have now lost three players in as many league matches as France winger Kingsley Coman also tore ankle ligaments after being fouled on the opening day of the season against Hoffenheim.

"It can't go on like this or by matchday 10 (in the Bundesliga), we won't be able to put out 11 players," fumed Rummenigge before Bayern jetted off on Tuesday.

"We don't like the way teams are playing against us, that has to be sorted out somehow.

"In this regard, we must ask the DFB (German FA), and referees in particular, to protect our players."