Dusseldorf - Champions Bayern Munich will defend their Bundesliga title this season, all the German league's coaches say in a poll by Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

Although Hoffenheim lead the table on goal difference over Bayern (both 35 points), none of the coaches predict the promoted side will stay the course.

Former Bayern coach Felix Magath, now in charge of Wolfsburg, said: "Bayern will win, despite their initial difficulties. They have the strongest squad and will profit from the experience they have playing for titles."

The German league season resumes next weekend when Bayern visit SV Hamburg on Friday January 29 at the start of the weekend programme. Hoffenheim entertain Energie Cottbus two days later on Sunday.

Bayern coach Juergen Klinsmann believes Hoffenheim will still be a rival for the title despite losing the league's top scorer Vedad Ibisevic for the rest of the season following a torn knee ligament.

With Bayern in the Champions League and German Cup, other teams will have an easier programme, he said.

"I expect Hoffenheim to be there, and Bremen will bounce back. But if we keep our concentration we will be champions in the end," he said.

Werder Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf, who had mentioned Hoffenheim as a possible title candidate at the start of the season, said: "Bayern and Hoffenheim are the first you have to name. Both have been the most consistent in the first half of the season.

"Maybe experience will count in the end for Bayern."

Hoffenheim coach Ralf Rangnick also doubted his side would still be top at the end of the season.

"There won't be a duel between Bayern and Hoffenheim. There are plenty of other teams like Hamburg, Leverkusen, Bremen, Schalke, (Hertha) Berlin or Stuttgart who also want to be challenging," he said.

Cologne coach Christoph Daum said: "The team that wants to be champions has to get past Bayern." (dpa)