Dortmund hope to send message in Super Cup against Bayern

Dortmund's Marco Reus wants his team to win their the German Super Cup. Photo: Martin Meissner/AP Photo

Dortmund's Marco Reus wants his team to win their the German Super Cup. Photo: Martin Meissner/AP Photo

Published Aug 1, 2019

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BERLIN – The German football season opens with the Super Cup on

Saturday as Borussia Dortmund duel with Bayern Munich for the first -

but probably not the last – time this campaign.

"The Super Cup carries a great significance for all of us," Dortmund

captain Marco Reus said after Tuesday's final friendly, a 4-1 romp

over Swiss side St Gallen.

"It's a title up for grabs, it's important to make a good start to

the season and to show our fans that we're out to achieve something."

Reus has made no secret of the fact Dortmund, Bundesliga runners-up

last season, are out to go one better by becoming champions this

term.

That would end Bayern's seven-year title streak since Dortmund last

claimed the honour in 2012.

Coach Lucien Favre has been given both more quality and depth to work

with from the squad which came up just two points short in the table

a few months ago.

Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia

Moenchengladbach), Mats Hummels (Bayern Munich) and Nico Schulz

(Hoffenheim) are significant arrivals while Abdou Diallo (Paris

Saint-Germain) and Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) the main departures.

Brandt will miss out of the Super Cup, hosted by Dortmund, while

Hazard and home keeper Roman Buerki are injury doubts.

"The Super Cup is a match with lots of potential," said back-up

keeper Marwin Hitz, "That's when it really starts for us."

Reus did admit that it is "equally clear that neither we nor Bayern

are at 100 per cent," going into tie which limits its value as a

predictor for the season ahead.

Bayern have been involved in the Super Cup every year since 2012,

winning four and losing three, so are used to both positive and

negative outcomes.

"The Super Cup is a good game," coach Niko Kovac said after losing

Bayern's last friendly on penalties to Tottenham Hotspur on

Wednesday. "I have taken it very seriously last year and we'll take

it seriously in Dortmund at the weekend."

Twelve months ago Kovac watched his side cruise 5-0 over his former

club Eintracht Frankfurt to open a season which ended with the

domestic double.

But he survived a poor run of form early on and a good start this

season is likely crucial for his future.

"The current condition of the team is very good," said Kovac, though

he has publicly hoped for more reinforcements.

Bayern have added World Cup winning defenders Lucas Hernandez and

Benjamin Pavard, and young striker Fiete Arp this close season.

But all three deals were agreed months ago and the weeks since the

German Cup win over RB Leipzig in May have been spent on a - so far -

fruitless search for wingers to replace the departed Arjen Robben and

Franck Ribery.

French wide player Kingsley Coman is a slight doubt for Saturday

having picked up a knock against Spurs though Kovac said "he'll play

again in the next few days."

Win or lose against Dortmund, Bayern will have work to do before the

Bundesliga start against Hertha Berlin on August 16.

But for 90 minutes – and possibly penalties – all their concentration

can go on beating their old rivals.

"We are looking forward to the game on Saturday, to our first match

for the first title," said midfielder Thomas Mueller.

dpa

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