BVB suffer 5-4 shootout defeat to Bayern

Boris Rupert reporting from Signal Iduna Park

The 81,360 spectators at a sold-out Signal Iduna Park saw BVB make a bright start, which was capped off by Pulisic firing them into a 12th-minute lead. Their hold on proceedings subsequently dwindled, however, and Bayern could have had more than Lewandowski's 18th-minute leveller to show from the period that followed. The Black & Yellows, though, showed great desire as they fought their way back into the match, taking a 2-1 lead courtesy of Aubameyang in the 71st minute, but a curious equaliser by Kimmich two minutes from time took the game to penalties. Bürki gave BVB the advantage by denying Kimmich, but misses from Rode and Bartra ultimately handed Bayern the victory.

The scenario: 
DFB Cup winners Borussia Dortmund were facing Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in the Super Cup for the seventh time. In fact, it was the fifth time since 2012 the two giants had met in German football's curtain-raiser. The Black & Yellows had claimed victory in four of their previous six meetings (1989, 2008, 2013, 2014). Both teams had won the trophy six times in total.

Personnel matters: 
There was a lengthy injury list on both sides. BVB were without Götze (back injury and fatigue after returning from a five-month spell on the sidelines), Reus (partial cruciate ligament tear), Schmelzer (partial tear of the lateral collateral ligament), Guerreiro (broken foot), Weigl (fitness following fractured ankle), Schürrle, Durm (both muscular problems) and Mor (ill). Meanwhile, Neuer, Robben, James, Alaba, Boateng, Bernat and Thiago were missing for Bayern, meaning both coaches were without six first-choice players.

Tactics: 
BVB adopted a 4-3-3 formation with defensive midfielder Sahin flanked by Dahoud (right) and Castro (left) on either side, while wingers Dembélé (right) and Pulisic (left) formed a three-pronged attack alongside centre-forward Aubameyang. For the most part, they adopted the same formation without possession. The men from Munich defended in a 4-4-2 formation that featured Müller and Lewandowski up top and left little room between the two banks of four. Going forward they switched to a 4-3-2-1 system in which Müller adopted a central role behind the frontman and Kimmich looked to get forward on the overlap.

The match & analysis:
Sahin, who was making his 250th competitive appearance in Black & Yellow, had an effort deflected away for a corner. Although Bayern had the first good chance of the evening – Lewandowski firing wide from a centre-right position 13 metres out in the 11th minute – it was Borussia who were in the ascendancy in the opening quarter of an hour, with Pulisic opening the scoring on 12 minutes after dispossessing Martinez and shooting low past Ulreich in a one-on-one.

Bayern looked to play the ball into the final third at speed, especially down the right flank, where they looked to beat the offside trap. When Lewandowski levelled from close range in the 18th minute, referee Zwayer had to check with video referee Stieler that Kimmich had not been offside when he received Rudy's long diagonal ball in the build-up to the equaliser.

Borussia struggled in the period that ensued, losing their hold on the game and looking exposed at the back – particularly down the left. Müller was denied by Bürki from five metres (31) and then hit the woodwork with a header four minutes later, before Tolisso also came close with a headed effort (39). BVB only created one more good chance before the break, but a golden opportunity it was: Dahoud missed the chance to shoot in the 24th minute following a solo run and was then blocked, but the ball remained in the danger zone and Castro flicked Dembélé's cross goalbound, only for Ulreich to make the save.

BVB resurgence in final half an hour

Having brought on Rode for Dahoud, the Black & Yellows looked more stable at the back at the start of the second period and caused the champions problems in the final half an hour, with Castro inches away from getting on the end of a Dembélé cross (63). BVB then intercepted a Bayern counter and drove forward at pace before finding Dembélé, who threaded the ball through to Aubameyang. Last season's top scorer timed his run perfectly and latched onto the ball, lobbing Ulreich in spectacular fashion to make it 2-1 (71).

With two and a half minutes to go, referee Zwayer awarded Bayern a free-kick following a clash between Passlack and Kimmich down the flank. In the goalmouth scramble that ensued, Süle's header hit the bar and the ball fell to Kimmich, whose shot rebounded off Piszczek and into the back of the net to make it 2-2 (88).

Prospects: 
The players who did not feature in the Super Cup will get a run out in a friendly at Rot-Weiß Erfurt on Sunday (kick-off at 17:00 CET). The next competitive match comes a week today, when the Black & Yellows travel to FC Rielasingen-Arlen in the DFB Cup First Round.

Teams & goals