Ct ILOGNE, Genua ny. Aug 7: Both Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Muni* h underscored l heir excellent

pre season form with Impre-SMW Wins over the weekend and will enter the new Bundesliga season, starting Friday, as firm title favourites, reports AFP.

Leverkusen beat Spains Mallorca 4-0. while Bayern Munich defeated Manchester United 3-1 In the final of their Masters 2000 centenary tournament.

"Bayern and Bayer are looking pretty darn good. Both want to challenge for the title. 110 doubt about it." new Germany coach Rudi Voller said after pulling both teams under the micros* ope as he readies to announce

his debut team Tuesday for an August 16 friendly against Spain.

In the second half I saw a few players who were really fighting for a firm place in the first eleven, that makes me feel positive." Leverkusen coach Christoph Daum added.

"We won't let ourselves be distracted by the good result though. There Is no room for dreaming before our Bundesliga opener against V(L Wolfsburg.” he said.

Many other Bundesliga clubs however are still looking for form after a bad weekend. A defensive oriented Hertha Berlin held off AS Roma for a 0-0 draw In their Olympic stadium in front of 15.000 fans.

Roma were missing star Argentine striker Gabriel Batistuta while Hertha sorely missed German International Stefan Belnllch in the midfield.

Kaiserslautern were beaten 3-1 by Second Division FC Nuremberg, while 1860 Munich lost 2-3 to Spanish club Real Oviedo. 1860 play the first leg of their Champions League qualifying tie against English Premiership outfit Leeds United on Tuesday.

The Bundesliga's three new teams all registered losses In their last warm-up games Bochum were defeated 0-2 by Second Division neighbours Duisburg. FC Cologne lost 1-2 to Spanish club Real Sociedad San

Sebastian and Energie Cottbus were beaten 1-2 by Italians Fiorentina

Three days before tackling Auxerre in the Intertoto Cup final VfB Stuttgart beat Second Division newcomers SSV Reutlingen 3-1.

Borussia Dortmund impressed under new coach Matthais Sammer with a 2-0 over English side Middlesbrough thanks to a first half goal by Victor

Ikpeba (30thI and a Middlesbrough own goal.

Hamburg - who play Brondby Copenhagen Wednesday in the first leg of a Champions League qualifier - beat Second Division Arminia Bielefeld 2-0 despite sending out many reserve players.

Schalke finally had some good news after a turbulent build up to the season with a 1-3 vic lory over FC Utrecht.