DFL-Supercup Preview: Bayern and Dortmund to raise curtains
The two dominant sides of German football over the last decade – Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund – will contest this year’s DFL-Supercup in Dortmund.
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The match in the Signal Iduna Park on Saturday, August 5 is the fifth time the two giants of German football have met in the traditional season-opener that sees the Bundesliga champions take on the DFB Cup winners.
Both clubs have won the competition five times, with Werder Bremen the only other team that won it more than once (three times).
Since the competition was relaunched in 2010 as the DFL-Supercup – it was previously known as the DFB-Supercup - Bayern and Dortmund have completely dominated the event, with at least one of them appearing in every final.
Dortmund beat their arch rivals in 2013 and 2014, while the Bavarians turned the tables in 2012 and 2016.
Both teams will go into the game on the back of a gruelling Asia trip, during which they took on some top opposition in the International Champions Cup.
Bayern coach Carlo Ancelotti could be without Spanish defender Juan Bernat, who had to fly home from China after picking up an injury and remains doubtful for the Supercup.
Bernat's Spanish team-mate Javi Martinez, reiterated the importance of the Supercup, calling it the first major goal for Bayern. “Before looking at things like the Champions League, we want to win the Supercup. All the games before that are just leading up to the Supercup. We want to be fit for that match and we are fully concentrated on the game against Dortmund.”
However, the game does not only see a match-up between the two dominant clubs in German football, it also sees the leading strikers go head-to-head.
Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski top scored with 30 goals in the 2015/2016 season, while Dortmund’s Pierre Emerick Aubameyang scored one more in the 2016/2017 season to win the scorer award.
Surprisingly, both have scored just once in the Supercup final, with the Gabonese international finding the net in Dortmund’s 2014 win, while Lewandowski scored in 2012, when still a Dortmund player.
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The Polish international has said he is looking forward to renewing his battle for goals with Aubameyang, adding that he was pleased the striker chose to stay in the Bundesliga.
“It is good that he is staying. The Bundesliga needs good players and it makes the season more interesting. For us it is better if we have to continue fighting in the league until the end. As we then maintain our top form right until the last game.”
Football fans throughout Africa will be able to watch the match live and exclusive on the StarTimes World Football channel at 18:30 GMT on Saturday 5 August. The Director of StarTimes Ghana production, Ernest Quaye Arday, is expecting a great match between the two clubs.
“Bayern against Dortmund is a highlight not only in Germany, but throughout the world. And then, of course, to have two strikers who are undoubtedly amongst the best in the world, competing against each other is like an extra bonus. I certainly, will be glued to my seat to watch the game,” he said.
StarTimes is Bundesliga official media partner is Sub-Saharan Africa. 2017/18 Bundesliga season will be broadcasted live and exclusive on StarTimes platform. StarTimes will also broadcast all FIFA tournaments in 2017-2018, including Russia 2018 World Cup and European Qualifiers.