FC Bayern is set to play its first competitive match of the new season: the Super Cup. The classic match against Borussia Dortmund will take place at Signal Iduna Park on Saturday evening at 8:30 p.m.
Bayern naturally wants to clinch the first title of the season and come out on top in this prestigious showdown. Even though some players didn’t start training until much later due to the long World Cup break, expectations remain unchanged.
But the last few games against BVB have all been tough. Last season, Bayern won 3-2 and 2-1; the season before that, there were two draws (2-2, 1-1). And a lot has happened at Dortmund this summer. So, ahead of this head-to-head matchup, it’s worth taking a look at the opponent.
The BVB roster has changed significantly
As soon as sporting director Ole Book took over at BVB, he announced that the roster would change significantly for the new season. Announcements are one thing, but putting them into practice is another story altogether. It quickly became clear, however, that he was absolutely serious.
Julian Brandt, Niklas Süle, and Salih Özcan left the club on free transfers. Cole Campbell and Julien Duranville, two “perennial prospects,” were sold, and Karim Adeyemi also left the club. Had the market been more favorable, additional sales would likely have gone through as well.
The “new” BVB is supposed to be younger, fresher, and more dynamic. That was important to everyone involved. The goal was essentially to go back to the roots and focus more on young talent again. That may be risky, but it can—above all—lead to lasting success if the club manages to bring in the right types of players.
Joane Gadou (19), Kaua Prates (18), Lustin Lerma (18), and Konstantinos Karetsas (18) were added to the existing pool of young talent centered around Samuele Inacio and Luca Reggiani. That said, Karetsas, who joined for 30 million euros, falls more into the category of a blockbuster signing.
Meanwhile, Dortmund has also signed his compatriot Giannis Konstantelias, who, at 23, is already almost a veteran. Both are expected to revitalize Dortmund’s offense. Joey Veerman (27), who came from Eindhoven, rounds out the summer transfer window so far for the team led by former Bayern coach Niko Kovac.
What impact will these changes have on BVB?
The Black-and-Yellows’ roster looks different now. A mix of young talent, experience, and leaders. During preseason, the team gained some important insights, and Dortmund offered a glimpse of where they might be headed. At times, the Black-and-Yellows’ play was more fluid, faster, and more direct. Players like Inacio, who aren’t afraid to take risks, bring momentum to the team.
After a sluggish start, BVB recently drew 2–2 against Roma; prior to that, they won 3–2 at Arsenal. That match even included a dream goal by Karetsas. And Veerman and Konstantelias—who are likely to be in the squad against Bayern—were still missing from both games.
Niko Kovac, who has been repeatedly criticized in the past, isn’t likely to shift his focus much from solid fundamentals and a strong defense, but what’s more interesting—and more important—is the message he’s sending to the squad. Players who may have rested on their laurels in the past can no longer do so in this way. Competition spurs progress—that’s not just a cliché.
Ultimately, BVB aims to develop more and more offensive initiative based on a solid defense. With the two technically skilled Greeks in the attacking half-spaces, the team can both launch counterattacks with plenty of space up front and break through deep-lying defensive lines. Against Arsenal and Roma, we already saw glimpses of where this could lead.
It’s hard to say how much of the “new BVB’s” ultimate vision will already be evident in the Super Cup, because the team first needs to work on its plays with the newest additions. It’s also not certain that BVB is clearly better than last season. But the team has laid the groundwork to be—or at least to become—an interesting and top-tier opponent for FC Bayern.