Resurgent Bayern trying to catch Hoffenheim

The last time a promoted team topped the standings in the Bundesliga after 10 rounds, it won the title.

Hoffenheim is increasingly beginning to resemble the Kaiserslautern team of 10 years ago that won the championship the season it got promoted under coach Otto Rehhagel.

But Kaiserslautern is a team with a long tradition, while Hoffenheim is an unlikely upstart from a village with a population of fewer than 3,300 that has climbed from the third division in just two years behind the millions from its backer, software billionaire Dietmar Hopp.

And while Kaiserslautern is back in the second division, Hoffenheim looks like it is here to stay. German bookmakers have already made it the second favorite for the title, after defending champion Bayern Munich.

"Hoffenheim will remain at the top and will be a contender for the title," Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness said.

Bayern has won its last three and Juergen Klinsmann's team is catching up fast after a sputtering start, although it has not been spectacular.

Going into this weekend's 11th round, Hoffenheim has 22 points, Bayer Leverkusen 21, Hamburger SV 20 and Bayern 18.

Leverkusen kicks off the weekend with a home game against Wolfsburg on Friday. Hoffenheim hosts Karlsruhe on Saturday, Bayern plays Arminia Bielefeld and Hamburger SV visits Hannover.

Hoffenheim and Leverkusen are the Bundesliga's two youngest teams, they have scored the most goals and are playing the most entertaining football in the league. They also have the advantage of being able to concentrate solely on the league, since neither is an international competition. Leverkusen is one of two teams to have beaten Hoffenheim, in a 5-2 rout.

While Hoffenheim also led after two rounds, Ralf Rangnick said then that he would have a better idea about the true strength of his team once the season was 10 games old.

Now, he is trying to keep the euphoria in check and not let his players get carried away.

"It's very positive where we are. The development of the team has been great," Rangnick said after his team rallied to beat Bochum 3-1 on Wednesday. "But we don't want to lose what has been our main strength, the carefree approach."

Leverkusen is nursing a similar go-for-broke style _ it is the only Bundesliga club without a draw and it has four wins on the road.

Hoffenheim is riding a four-game winning streak, while Leverkusen has won its last three and is coming off a 2-0 victory at Werder Bremen.

Bayern had to come from behind in two of its last three wins, the latest a 2-1 victory at Eintracht Frankfurt.

"We are still not so good as we were last season, we are allowing too many goals," said France midfielder Franck Ribery, who had a goal and an assist against Frankfurt. "But we are playing with more joy now and no fear."

Ribery came back at the start of the month after an ankle injury and is gradually returning to the form that made him the league's top-rated player last season. He has two goals in the last two games.

In other matches Saturday, Werder Bremen hosts Hertha Berlin, Stuttgart plays Cologne and Energie Cottbus meets Schalke.

On Sunday, Borussia Dortmund hosts Bochum and Borussia Moenchengladbach plays Frankfurt.