Bayern in Stuttgart in German Cup

Bayern Munich gets a head start on Hoffenheim when the German football season resumes this week.

Hoffenheim, the Bundesliga newcomer and surprise leader, will wait until Saturday to return to the field. By then, Bayern will have played two games already.

Juergen Klinsmann's team visits Stuttgart on Tuesday in the third round of the German Cup for Bayern's first competitive game since the Bundesliga went on its break in mid-December.

"It's time to get going," Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness said.

Hoffenheim, which leads Bayern's on goal difference in the league, has been knocked out of the German Cup. Bayern, the defending Bundesliga champion, is still competing on three fronts, including the Champions League.

After taking on Stuttgart, Bayern will kick off the second half of the Bundesliga season Friday at Hamburger SV. Hoffenheim's first game _ at its new stadium in nearby Sinsheim _ is Saturday against Energie Cottbus.

"We have two big games ahead of us," Klinsmann said. "We have to make sure of getting a good start."

Bayern looks to the second half of the season encouraged by strong performances in warm-up matches.

"We've trained very intensely and we feel very fit," midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger said. "We feel ready to get the maximum out of the first few games."

German clubs use the long midseason break to rest players and then move to warmer climates for training camps and sometimes they need a game or two get into the rhythm.

Bayern warmed up by playing second-division opposition and easily won both, beating Kaiserslautern 2-0 and crushing Mainz 5-0.

"I am glad we are getting to serious stuff now, we'll see in how good a shape we are," striker Luca Toni said.

Toni and Miroslav Klose will start up front but Klinsmann will have another option in Landon Donovan. The American, who is on loan from Major League Soccer until March, scored four goals in warm-up games this month, a boost in his attempt to get a permanent contract with Bayern.

Klinsmann is eager to avoid another slow start, like at the beginning of the season, when he took over as coach and saw Bayern slump to its worst start in more than 30 years.

Bayern recovered strongly and is going into the second half of the season riding a 16-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

Its last game, however, was a 2-2 draw in the league against Stuttgart, when Stuttgart scored with time running out to earn the draw.

Now, Bayern travels to Stuttgart again for a date with its former player and Klinsmann's friend Markus Babbel, who is now the coach there.

Hoffenheim has been the toast of the league, with the small provincial club entertaining the crowds with its fast-paced, high-scoring style. But Hoffenheim had a major setback during the break when Vedad Ibisevic tore a ligament in his right knee during a practice match this month. Ibisevic, who leads the Bundesliga with 18 goals, is out for the rest of the season and Hoffenheim still hasn't found a replacement.

Most experts believe Hoffenheim will find it hard to keep with Bayern.

"Bayern will retain the title despite a difficult start," Wolfsburg coach and former Bayern boss Felix Magath said. "Bayern has the strongest roster and will also profit from its experience in battling for the title."

Hamburg will also have an early start when it plays the other Munich club, 1860, on Tuesday in the cup. Schalke visits second-division Carl Zeiss Jena.

Other top matches in the cup are Borussia Dortmund vs. Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen vs. Energie Cottbus, both on Wednesday.