Bayern Munich in summer preseason ICC action, Image Scott Marsh
By Dan Gaichas
The first official fixture of the German calendar is this Sunday (1:30pm CT, FS1).
For the unfamiliar, this relatively new German version of the English Community Shield is called simply the “SuperCup”. Unlike it’s older cousin in the EPL this SuperCup often takes the appearance of a pre-season warm up match, with a heavy dosage of new players given a chance to impress early on that may not typically get a chance. Trainers/Coaches will also likely be experimenting with formations and player units in preparation for the upcoming campaign
This Years fixture will not be any different.
The SuperCup will feature the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal winners Bayern Munich against the runners-up in both competitions Borussia Dortmund. The match will be hosted at the Signal Iduna Park where BVB won its last outing this competition in 2014 against Bayern. Since 2011, the home team, aka the Pokalmeister or the league runners-up if there’s a double winner, have won the Supercup.
Bayern will be without Renato Sanches, Arjen Robben, Douglas Costa, and Holger Badstuber due to injury and recovery. Jerome Boateng, Franck Ribery, and Xabi Alonso might feature despite missing training on Monday. Julian Green has been included in the first team this season. We shall see how many minutes he will get this season.
Julian Green is expected to log minutes on Sunday, Photo Don Mac Gregor
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is expected to lead Dortmund’s attack again this season after scoring 28 goals in all competitions. They also welcome Mario Götze back from Munich as well (just as Bayern welcome back Mats Hummels from Dortmund). Andre Schurrle also joins the yellow and black for this season. Marco Reus is expected to return mid-August. BVB is expected to be the top contenders once again to Munich for the Bundesliga title.
It’s been 2012 since Bayern have won the Supercup. They are 4-5 overall while BVB is 5-2 and is in the Supercup for the fifth time in six years. In 2013, the Supercup was the only trophy Bayern didn’t win that year claiming the Bundesliga title, DFB Pokal, European Cup, European Supercup, and Club World Cup. It would be nice for Bayern to win this to start the season with silverware. For BVB, it’s a chance to show Bayern that they are here to challenge them for the title in earnest this season
