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The 2019 DFL-Supercup kick-started the new football season, and the fact that it had a Der Klassiker in-store made the occasion even more special. Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund prepared to face each other at the Westfalenstadion on Saturday evening in a fantastic contest ahead of the start of the league.
The Super Cup is played between the Bundesliga Champions and the winner of the DFB-Pokal. However, Bayern Munich won both trophies last season and, as a result, they faced Borussia Dortmund, who narrowly finished second in the league last season.
The two clubs are no stranger to the Super Cup; before Saturday's results, Bayern had won the trophy 7 times, including the last three years in a row, while Dortmund had won it 5 times. And on Saturday, it was a chance for both clubs to start the new season on a high, by getting their hands on the first piece of silverware available this season.
Both teams started the game well, with Borussia Dortmund looking the better side at the start. However, Bayern got back into the game and controlled proceedings in the first half. After the break, Dortmund took the lead through Paco Alcacer in the 48th minute, before Jadon Sancho doubled the lead in the 69th minute.
The Bundesliga Champions rallied late into the game but failed to score. Borussia Dortmund won their first Silverware of the season in an extremely entertaining encounter and here are 3 talking points from the game:
#3 The Bayern Munich defence looked shaky
Bayern Munich's decision to allow Mats Hummels to rejoin Borussia Dortmund this summer was always going to have an inherent risk associated with it. However, the Bavarians had Niklas Sule and Jerome Boateng and had also roped in Lucas Hernandez from Atletico Madrid and Benjamin Pavard from Stuttgart. It was expected that Bayern had enough cover at the back, but the game against Dortmund certainly raised a few questions.
Niko Kovac opted for a centre back pairing of Boateng and Sule, which is expected to be the preferred pairing this summer. Unfortunately, it was a night to forget for Sule, who started the game with a mistake. Neuer was required to make a big save in the second minute and it was a sign of things to come.
Too many times in the game, the Bayern defence was caught off guard by the Dortmund attack, with the Boateng-Sule pairing unable to handle the speed and trickery of Sancho and Co. Sule remained a spectator for both goals and the youngster must improve quickly before the start of the season.
#2 Dortmund broke Bayern with their Counter Attacking strategy
Borussia Dortmund started the game well, but Bayern Munich soon gained control of the midfield, thanks to the brilliant Thiago. The Bundesliga Champions kept the ball and dictated the tempo of the match. Dortmund coach Lucien Favre knew that he could not beat the opposition in the possession game, so he opted for the perfect foil - counter-attack.
Whenever Dortmund had the ball, they were fast, decisive and direct. Favre's forwards moved the ball fast and regularly caught Bayern off guard. Jadon Sancho, in particular, was devastating in the counter-attack and already looks ready for another breakthrough season ahead. The Englishman set up the first goal and scored the second in a Man of the Match performance.
Every time Dortmund broke into the counter, Bayern looked shaken. The defence was exposed and it took some solid saves from Neuer to keep the scoreline at 0-0 in the first half. However, Favre's tactics worked like a charm in the end, as their fast breaks led to goals in the second half. Ultimately, Borussia Dortmund exposed Bayern Munich with their counter-attacking strategy and won the game.
#1 It could be another close season in the Bundesliga
Last season, Borussia Dortmund lost the race to the Bundesliga title on the final day, ending the season with 76 points, 2 behind Champions Bayern. It was the closest finish in recent times, however, that seems to be just a sign of things to come this year.
This summer, Borussia Dortmund have invested wisely and made some smart additions to the team. The return of Mats Hummels could be a turning point in the league, while Thorgan Hazard and Julian Brandt will have their say too. However, the fact that Favre's side managed to convincingly defeat the Champions without any of these three indicates a shift of power, at least temporarily.
Bayern's summer business has been shrewd, but they are yet to replace Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery. The defence, as the night showed, could be an issue as well. The Supercup has also indicated that after last year's close finish, Dortmund could be mounting another fierce title challenge this time.
Their attack will be spearheaded by the brilliant Jadon Sancho, who traumatized the Bundesliga Champions on the night. Bundesliga could be gearing up for another brilliant season and might even get coloured Black and Yellow come May.
