Bayern Munich’s star players should get more protection from referees following long-term injuries suffered by Corentin Tolisso and Rafinha at the weekend.

French midfielder Tolisso 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 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 Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Bayern flew to Portugal ahead of their opening Champions League group stage game at Benfica on Wednesday without the latest two injured players.

Bayern are bidding for a seventh straight league title this season and Rummenigge believes teams are playing dirty in a bid to stop them.

“We don’t like the way teams are playing against us, that has to be sorted out somehow,” added Rummenigge.

“In this regard, we must ask the DFB (German FA), and referees in particular, to protect our players. It’s partly motivated by the public, under the motto: ‘stop Bayern Munich by any means’ – that’s completely unfair.”

With Tolisso, Coman and Rafinha out, places are up for grabs in Bayern’s starting line-up with Germany star Thomas Mueller set to make his 100th Champions League appearance at Benfica.