Supercup: FC Bayern cannot be stressed for long – sport

The most famous pointer is represented by a ceiling fresco in the Vatican: Michelangelo’s painting of the “Creation of Adam”. John Travolta’s forefinger pointing towards the sky on his outstretched arm in “Staying Alive” was a style-defining finger pointer for the dance industry. And it seemed rebellious how, despite his strict index finger, the teacher Lämpel was set on fire by Max and Moritz. The cultural history is teeming with important pointers, but the “finger point” that Borussia Dortmund’s soccer coach Marco Rose had explicitly promised himself from the Supercup against Bayern Munich turned out to be not as hoped for as rebellious and style-defining for BVB on Tuesday evening – rather than one a bit sobering.

Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann described the game in advance as a “prestige duel in which everyone wants to see how the forces are distributed”. This was Rose’s definition of “pointing the finger”. If you interpret the Munich 3-1 (1-0) victory from this point of view, then a lot points to the tenth championship title in a row for Bayern Munich. The Dortmunders nevertheless credibly demonstrated their will to resist, and in this respect the intense game was also a consolation for all neutral viewers with a fundamental interest in tension.

With only one change each, both coaches relied on their starting lineups from the Bundesliga opener last weekend. Rose had to replace the injured winger Thorgan Hazard at BVB, but did not opt ​​for the Dutch approach Donyell Malen, but for the 16-year-old striker Youssoufa Moukoko, who formed a double lead with Erling Haaland. That was brave against FC Bayern, but Rose had probably seen the defensive problems of Munich in the opening game at Borussia Mönchengladbach and thought that the Bayern defense could be stressed out with a double tip. That succeeded to a limited extent.

At Bayern, Julian Nagelsmann did without Leroy Sané in the starting line-up, moved left attacker Serge Gnabry to the right wing and brought Kingsley Coman on the left. Castling turned out to be a smart move because Dortmund right-back Felix Passlack enabled the lightning-fast Coman to win the ball again and again. In the 41st minute, when Coman and Gnabry had long since swapped sides, Passlack could not prevent Gnabry from the flank that Robert Lewandowski headed to the 1-0 half-time lead. Like a volleyball player to a ball, he flew up in an impressive manner.

“He brought in an incredible spirit. He was like a life insurance policy, extremely good,” said Nagelsmann at Sky. The coach did not want to overestimate his own share in winning the title: “The title is a reward for the last season. This is a title that Hansi and the team deserve.” At the same time, Nagelsmann emphasized that success also meant something to him.

The Munich players, who warmed up in jerseys with the number 9 and the name Müller in honor of the late Gerd Müller, were only impressed here and there by the Dortmund double top. They dominated the game, but missed an earlier lead before Marco Reus failed in the 20th minute with the first BVB chance on the fabulous Manuel Neuer. It was an action film from a soccer game. Up and down, back and forth, regardless of (ball) losses. The game is also a clue: If you want to become champions, you not only have to pass Bayern, but also Dortmund.

Both Bayern goals fall over Dortmund’s right side

For the ninth time, the clubs faced each other in the Supercup (and the tenth time if you include the unofficial event in 2008, which Dortmund won 2-1). The previous eight official Supercup duels were divided between BVB and FCB 4: 4. The only edition on neutral ground in 1989 in Kaiserslautern was won by BVB, the two games in Munich (2012 and 2020) were won by FC Bayern and of the previous five games in Dortmund, three were won by BVB and two by FCB. Do together: four victories against each other. Bayern are now 5: 4 ahead in a direct comparison.

The second goal fell over the right Dortmund defense side. This time Alphonso Davies put the ball in the middle, where Lewandowski irritated BVB goalkeeper Gregor Kobel and Thomas Müller made it 2-0 possible (49th). Tension germinated, although Haaland’s goal was denied in the 53rd minute due to offside. For Dortmund, this action was nevertheless the encouraging signal that something seemed possible against the Munich defense.

Open detailed view

In the 64th minute, Marco Reus reduced the score to 1: 2. His artistic shot from the edge of the penalty area turned around the Munich defense in the corner of the goal in which Neuer was powerless this time. It was Reus’ eighth goal against Neuer.

The decision in favor of Bayern brought a dropout of the BVB defender Manuel Akanji in the 74th minute. The freshly substituted Corentin Tolisso blocked his unoccupied pass, and Lewandowski, who was completely free, converted this rebound to 3-1. For Nagelsmann it was the first victory as coach of FC Bayern Munich.