Bayern Munich defeats Borussia Dortmund to claim German Super Cup

Bayern Munich humbled Borussia Dortmund 3-1 in front of their own fans at the Westfalenstadion to claim the first piece of German silverware for the 2021/22 season, the German Super Cup, in a first meeting between both sides under their new managers Julian Nagelsmann and Marco Rose. Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich took on DFB Pokal champions Borussia Dortmund in the game.

Before kickoff, both sides held a minute’s silence to show respect to German legend Gerd Muller, who passed away aged 75 a few days earlier. Both sides came into the game with contrasting fortunes. While Bayern Munich had a somewhat subdued start to life under Nagelsmann, Borussia Dortmund was flying after picking up two wins in Rose’s first two games in charge of the club with Erling Haaland contributing 5 goals and 3 assists in the games. There was talk of Nagelsmann struggling with the Bayern Munich job due to his age, but his side laid all of that to waste with a masterful performance against Borussia Dortmund to restore normalcy in German football.

Bayern Munich dominated the opening proceedings, with German winger Serge Gnabry receiving the ball in good positions in front of goal multiple times, but the former Arsenal man found it hard to put the ball into the back of the net. At the other end of the pitch, Borussia Dortmund was struggling to bring Haaland into the game as Bayern’s defensive pairing of Dayot Upamecano and Niklas Sule barely allowed the Norwegian have a sniff of goal. Bayern Munich captain Manuel Neuer thwarted Borussia Dortmund captain Marco Reus in a one-on-one situation, making a crucial save with his foot with the winger poised to open the scoring. Bayern Munich should have been in front after a ricochet in the Borussia Dortmund box sent the ball into the path of Robert Lewandowski, but the striker’s shot was blocked on the line by Axel Witsel. Borussia Dortmund thought they had gotten the lead after 16-year-old wunderkind Youssoufa Moukoko buried a finish beyond Neuer, but the offside flag went up against the teenage sensation, ruling out the goal.

Not long after, Bayern made Dortmund pay. A cross from the left by Gnabry was attacked by Lewandowski, who planted a firm header beyond the reach of the Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper in the 41st minute to put Bayern Munich 1-0 up before the break. Four minutes into the second half, Bayern Munich doubled their advantage through Thomas Muller after the German appeared in the right place at the right time to slot home after the goalkeeper failed to claim a Lewandowski backheel from close range. Borussia Dortmund pulled one back in the 64th minute as Reus scored an exquisite goal from outside the box following a Jude Bellingham pass. Bayern Munich sealed the result as Lewandowski showed his terrific finishing ability to find the net after Corentin Tolisso intercepted a pass from Manuel Akanji and laid the ball off to him.

Bayern Munich has now won consecutive German Super Cup titles and five of the last six on offer, having beaten Borussia Dortmund in the final in 2020, as well. The performance of the team was brilliant as they dominated their opponents, and it would surely lay to rest some of the rumours that have flown around since the beginning of Nagelsmann’s reign at the club. Borussia Dortmund was booed off the pitch by their fans at the end of the game.