Borussia Dortmund eased past lacklustre Bayern Munich 2-0 with goals from Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to lift the German Super Cup yesterday and draw first blood in their rivalry with the Bavarians this season.
With both clubs leaving most of their World Cup winners and big names at home or on the bench with the season yet to start, all eyes were on Bayern’s new striker Robert Lewandowski.
With Dortmund fans whistling and jeering the club’s former forward on his first return to the city since joining their rivals, Armenian Mkhitaryan struck in the 23rd minute, rifling home after a superb passing move which he launched.
Bayern, without wingers Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben as well as defender Rafinha and midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger among others, were on the back foot for much of the game with keeper Manuel Neuer repeatedly coming to the rescue.
He was without a chance, however, when winger Aubameyang rose high above defender Jerome Boateng to drill in a header in the 62nd minute and celebrate by putting on a Spiderman mask he slipped out of his sock to the delight of the 80,600 crowd.
Dortmund were also missing several players, including central defender and new captain Mats Hummels and winger Marco Reus, ready for a comeback after missing the World Cup due to injury.
“We played very good at the back,” Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp told reporters.
“The Bavarians did not have a lot of chances and we defended superbly. The engine is gradually starting to work well but we are still not at 100 per cent.”
His Bayern counterpart Pep Guardiola brought on captain Philipp Lahm and Mario Goetze in the second half but Germany’s World cup winners could do little to stem the flow of the Dortmund attacks.
“Many of us only recently returned to training and we also have some players injured,” said Lahm.
“It was not easy. We did not have that many chances but we are still in the middle of our pre-season preparations.”
The hosts had chances to add to their tally en route to retaining the trophy, with last season’s double winners Bayern, who also lost the Super Cup 12 months ago, looking more like a work in progress with the league start just over a week away.