DFL Supercup: Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund Match Review

The new season is upon us, and Bayern have finished their pre-season the way they would want to finish the league: by beating Borussia Dortmund. A concise performance by the Bavarian outfit saw them beat Die Borussen by 2 goals to 1, ending their 5-match losing streak against the latter.

A pass by Ribery, helped on its way by a mistake from Neven Subotic found the Red and White’s new signing Mario Mandzukic unmarked, only to see the Croat slot the ball home from close range. A few minutes later, a perfectly timed through ball by the goalscorer found Robben in acres of space only to see the Dutchman hit the post.

Mario Mandzukic found the net for the Rot-Weiss

The rebound however, was jumped on by Thomas Muller who smashed the ball into the top corner. Bayern were defensively very solid, but there were some errors that could have cost them the game. Dante’s failure to commit to his tackle on Robert Lewandowski cost his team a goal, but apart from that he had a decent game. Robben’s shot in the 78th minute pulled a good save out of Roman Weidenfeller. Following Lewandowski’s goal, Bayern defended more than they attacked for the rest of the game and held on for the win.

Dortmund looked sluggish and their back-line looked ever so shaky. While many things were expected of their attack comprising Robert Lewandowski, Jakub Blasczykowski and Marco Reus, they were barely present in the first half with Lewandowski coming to life only in the 48^th minute to test Manuel Neuer’s razor sharp reflexes. Reus grew in confidence once the whistle for the second half was blown, and saw a shot go just wide in the 52^nd minute. Lewandowski reduced the deficit to one goal when he coolly slotted the ball into the net in the 75^th minute. Schreiber’s shot narrowly missed the goal in the 79^th minute.

Robert Lewandowski scored for Dortmund.

They pressed the home team more and more following their goal, butr they failed to convert their chances.

Bayern’s little one-twos down the wings were encouraging, and seeing Arjen Robben pass the ball even more so. The most positive aspect of the game, one that Jupp Heycknes undoubtedly had his boys work on during pre-season has been the finishing. All through last season, it has been absolutely frustrating to watch the team squander chance after chance in front of goal, and to watch an undeserving team run away with the Champions League due to this reason. This time around? No Sir! The team had a no nonsense approach in front of goal. A little less fancy, a little more effective and as we can see, it has already started paying dividends.

On the whole, to base our assumptions on the result of a long and gruelling season on the basis of one game may be wrong but it wouldn’t be criminal to say that Dortmund have a lot of work left to do in the days left be. Their second half performance was a much more confident one, but still not of the standard they replicated repeatedly last season. Perhaps the hole left by Shinji Kagawa has not yet been filled yet.

Bayern on the other hand, while missing some influential players like Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mario Gomez, and the young phenomenon David Alaba have asserted that they and not the team from North-Rhine Westphalia are the team to beat this season.