Bastian Schweinsteiger admitted Bayern Munich's goalless draw against Cologne was "almost depressing".

Bayern find themselves eight points adrift of Bayer Leverkusen in seventh position and Schweinsteiger admits the situation is worrying.

"It's just sickening," he said. "That's the way it really is.

"This is almost depressing. It really is a shame that we only got one point."

Schweinsteiger came the closest to breaking the deadlock with one header against the crossbar and another one which deflected off team-mate Miroslav Klose before rattling the woodwork.

But had the game gone on until late into the night, Bayern would probably not have managed to score against a very defensive Cologne.

"My players worked hard, but it is very difficult to play against a Cologne side who only defended," said coach Louis van Gaal.

"They have 10 men behind the ball like a wall. You need a bit of luck to get past them and we did not find this.

"We controlled the game, but that is not what the fans are interested in - they want to see goals, and they are right.

"The Bundesliga is far from being decided. The prizes are given out in April, May, not now."

Yet with eight games of the season gone, Bayern already have a mountain to climb to catch up with the leaders.

Although they may have been as low as 11th at the same stage of last season, they were never so many points off top spot under Van Gaal's predecessor Jurgen Klinsmann.