Bayern back to face Stuttgart challenge

The first competitive game in Germany this year will feature a number of reunions as UEFA Cup contenders VfB Stuttgart welcome holders FC Bayern München in the last 16 of the German Cup.

Repeat fixture
The players themselves should be well acquainted as the teams met in their final Bundesliga fixture before the winter break on 13 December – a 2-2 draw after Sami Khedira rescued a point for Stuttgart in stoppage time. Bayern coach Jürgen Klinsmann sees the rematch as a gauge of his side's capacity entering the spring campaign. "We will immediately know where we stand," he said. "This match will be a really tough battle and I think our chances are 50-50."

Opening challenge
Klinsmann's former Bayern team-mate, VfB coach Markus Babbel, recognises the size of the task facing his team too. He said: "Of course it won't be easy, but I'm absolutely convinced we can win. We just have to concentrate a bit more, because Bayern are a top-quality side. We need to play with the same belief and intensity as last time."

Klinsmann returns
Despite the break, both teams are struggling with injuries. The hosts do without Ludovic Magnin, new signing Timo Gebhart, Sebastian Rudy and Cacau while Klinsmann has Daniel Van Buyten, Lukas Podolski and Toni Kroos unavailable. The Bayern boss believes his side will start the second half of the season much better than they did the first. "I'm confident we will be up and running straight away in the DFB-Pokal and the Bundesliga, because we are already at a higher level than in August or September," explained the ex-Stuttgart striker, who scored 79 goals in 155 games in the late 1980s for the Swabian outfit.

Babbel anticipation
Babbel is also relishing the restart. "Finally the wait is over," the former German international said. "We have worked hard and the players are happy that things are getting back to normal. We have a game in front of us where we have to do everything in our power to win." However, history is not on his team's side: the Bavarian giants have won five out of six cup matches between the clubs.