Hoffenheim, Martin Demichelis And Miroslav Klose: Normality Resumes at FC Bayern

The Bundesliga returns to action on Friday with a mouth watering tie at the Allianz Arena between Hoffenheim and Bayern. Last season, Hoffenheim were the top team at this stage while Bayern were second.

A short preview

Hoffenheim are without Chinedu Obasi and Isaac Vorsah due to the African Cup of Nations. Tobias Weis, Mathias Jaissle and Prince Tagoe are out with injuries while Luis Gustavo is suspended.

Bayern on the other hand, have a full squad to choose from with the exception of Franck Ribery. Louis Van Gaal has said that he will stick to the side that won him a berth in the last 16 of the Champions League as well as got Bayern up to third in the league.

Jupp Heynckes, Bayern's caretaker manager of last season and the current coach of Leverkusen, won 13 out of a possible 15 points. Hoffenheim snatched two points from him in a 2-2 draw. Bayern finished in second at the end, two points behind Wolfsburg.  Diego Contento, one of the trio of youngsters who went with Bayern to Dubai has signed his first professional contract with "Die Roten" which will run up to 2011.

I think that the game will either be drawn or be won by a one goal margin. Vedad Ibisevic scored a lovely goal against Bayern last season and he most probably will be a part of this match.

The outcome in Basel

Bayern beat Basel in their only friendly of the winter break, 3-1. They had their "B" side to thank rather than their "A" side. The "A" side was poor defensively and Daniel Van Buyten was nutmegged by Marco Streller for Basel's goal. Louis Van Gaal made 10 changes, leaving only Daniel Pranjic from the "A" team.

The reserves turned the game on its head. Hamit Altintop scored from a freekick which took a deflection. Miroslav Klose scored twice to win the match for Bayern and tell Louis Van Gaal that he can still score wonderful goals.

The Bayern players break their silence

Martin Demichelis has lately been homesick. He misses his fellow South American (Jose Sosa) and has lately been lonely. This is what he had to say:

"Life in Germany is still hard for me, I miss quite a few things from Argentina. I live here alone with my wife and son and I don't have any South American friends in the squad anymore."

He also said that he wants to be treated in the same way that Van Gaal treats Van Bommel. The funny thing is he has been part of the starting line-up whenever he hasn't been injured except for a few times.

Mark Van Bommel has said that Luca Toni's departure has settled the dressing room at Bayern.

Normality has indeed resumed at Bayern.