The first trophy of the season is coming to Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich open the competitive part of the new German season with a direct clash for the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup. The match will be played at Signal Iduna Park, with the hosts entering it as runners-up from last season's league campaign, while Bayern arrive as winners of the league and cup. That means the stakes are very clear: the first trophy of the new season and an early message to their biggest domestic rival.
For Dortmund, the fact that the match is being played in front of their own supporters adds extra value. Niko Kovač's team finished last season second with 73 points and a goal difference of 70:34. Vincent Kompany's Bayern were far ahead of the rest of the league: 89 points and as many as 122 goals scored in 34 rounds. That difference shows how dominant Bayern were in attack, but a one-off match with no second chance does not necessarily have to follow the logic of the league table.
It is worth securing tickets in time. Signal Iduna Park was already filled to capacity for Dortmund's final pre-season match against AS Roma, so the clash with Bayern will have a completely different competitive intensity from the friendly matches.
Dortmund arrive with positive signs from pre-season
Dortmund beat Arsenal 3:2 in London in the closing stages of their preparations and then drew 2:2 against AS Roma at home. The result against Roma is interesting because of the way it was achieved. BVB were already 0:2 down after nine minutes, but responded quickly. Julian Ryerson pulled one back in the 12th minute, and Serhou Guirassy equalised in the 28th after a Ryerson cross.
That match showed two sides of Kovač's team. The defensive start was unstable, with problems in duels and positioning, but the reaction after falling behind early was energetic. Dortmund increased the pressure, attacked down the flanks and created chances through Guirassy, while Konstantinos Karetsas provided directness between the lines. In the second half, Karetsas also hit the crossbar.
For the clash with Bayern, it is also important who did not play against Roma. Dortmund completed that test without several first-team players:
- Waldemar Anton did not play due to workload management.
- Maximilian Beier missed the match because of a knock to the knee.
- Emre Can was not in the squad because of a cruciate ligament injury.
- Carney Chukwuemeka was absent due to muscular problems.
- Nico Schlotterbeck did not play because of an ankle problem.
That does not automatically mean that all of the players listed will be unavailable against Bayern. For some of them, the decision may depend on the final week of training. But the list explains why Dortmund used a combination of youth and adaptations in the back line against Roma.
Guirassy against Kane is the central attacking duel
If the match develops into an open contest, the two number nines could become the most important players of the evening. Harry Kane finished last Bundesliga season with 36 goals. Serhou Guirassy scored 17. Kane was by far the league's top scorer, while Guirassy rediscovered his form during the spring run-in after a slower part of the season.
Kane is not only a finisher. Bayern use him as a focal point through whom they can bring the ball down, connect midfield with the wings and create space for the runs of Michael Olise and Luis Díaz. Olise finished last league season with 15 goals and 19 assists, so Dortmund cannot focus their defence only on Kane. If a centre-back steps out too aggressively towards the English forward, Bayern can immediately attack the space behind him.
Guirassy is a different type of focal point for Dortmund. His presence in the penalty area allows BVB to send balls in from the flanks earlier and forces opposing centre-backs to defend closer to their own goal. Julian Ryerson had 15 league assists last season, which clearly shows how much Dortmund gained from his crosses and work out wide.
That connection was visible again in the final test against Roma: Ryerson crossed and Guirassy finished the move for 2:2. Against Bayern, the quality of the first cross and the number of players entering the penalty area will be especially important because Bayern try to regain possession very quickly after losing the ball.
Bayern once again have the depth for a high press
Kompany's team finished last season with 122 league goals, which was a new competition record. For much of the season, Bayern played high up the pitch, aggressively regained lost balls and finished a large number of attacks before their opponents could fully organise themselves.
In the closing stages of pre-season, Bayern were once again bringing together a squad that had not worked at the same rhythm throughout the summer. Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies, Serge Gnabry, Lennart Karl and Ismael Saibari joined group training during the final phase of preparations after different recovery and conditioning programmes. That gives Kompany more options, but also raises the question of playing time.
Bayern won 3:2 on their most recent league visit to Dortmund. Kane scored twice on that occasion, while Joshua Kimmich decided the match with a goal in the 87th minute. Dortmund equalised at 2:2 late on, but were unable to preserve the result. That match is a good illustration of Bayern's danger: even when an opponent survives the first wave and gets back into the game, the quality of the final pass and finishing remains present until the end.
The tactical key to the match will be the space along the flanks
Under Kovač, Dortmund are often prepared to defend with three centre-backs and high wing-backs, while in possession they try to find the forwards quickly between the opposition's defence and midfield. Against Bayern, such a setup can produce two completely different pictures.
If Ryerson and Daniel Svensson manage to push Bayern's wingers back towards their own half, Dortmund can gain territory and more time to cross towards Guirassy. If Bayern, however, break through the first press, the space behind the wide players becomes extremely vulnerable. Olise is particularly dangerous when he receives the ball on the right side and can attack infield onto his left foot.
Three details are therefore important for Dortmund:
- do not lose the ball in the middle while both wide players are high up the pitch;
- prevent Kane from receiving the ball freely between the lines and switching the play;
- after winning possession, find Guirassy or a player attacking the space behind Bayern's back line as quickly as possible.
Bayern, on the other hand, must be careful of Dortmund's ability to switch the point of attack quickly. Ryerson's balls from the flanks, Guirassy's positioning and the runs of the second wave can punish a defence that remains too narrow around the central striker.
Recent head-to-head meetings give Bayern the advantage, but no peace of mind
Recent results show that Bayern have the better run, but also that Dortmund often remain in the contest until the late stages in this fixture:
- February 2026: Borussia Dortmund - Bayern Munich 2:3;
- October 2025: Bayern Munich - Borussia Dortmund 2:1;
- April 2025: Bayern Munich - Borussia Dortmund 2:2;
- November 2024: Borussia Dortmund - Bayern Munich 1:1;
- March 2024: Bayern Munich - Borussia Dortmund 0:2.
For the hosts, the message from last season's 2:3 defeat is particularly important. Dortmund took the lead, later came back to 2:2 and still ended up without a point. Bayern had greater control on that occasion and created better chances, while the decisive blow came very late. In the Supercup, both teams can play considerably more aggressively in the closing stages.
For a supporter who wants to watch this fixture live, it is worth securing tickets in time and arriving earlier because of the crowds and the atmosphere that builds before the first whistle.
Signal Iduna Park changes the feel of the match
Signal Iduna Park holds 81,365 spectators and is the largest football stadium in Germany. It is particularly famous for its large south stand, which creates extremely powerful noise behind one goal during home matches. The stadium opened in 1974 as Westfalenstadion and reached its present capacity through several phases of expansion.
For Dortmund, home advantage is not just decoration. The steep stand immediately beside the pitch amplifies every won duel, press and set piece. That is especially important in a match against Bayern because it can help BVB maintain an aggressive tempo even when the visitors enjoy longer spells of possession.
Bayern, however, are used to such matches and have not lost on their last two league visits to Dortmund. That is precisely why the first quarter of the match could be important. Dortmund will want to convert the energy of the stands into high pressure, while Bayern will try to slow the initial surge with long spells of possession and force the hosts to expend energy without the ball.
How to get to the stadium and when to set off
Signal Iduna Park is located at Strobelallee 50, south of Dortmund city centre. For major matches, public transport is a more practical choice than travelling by car because traffic around the stadium and Westfalenhallen quickly becomes congested.
The most useful practical information:
- from Dortmund Hauptbahnhof, the stadium area can be reached by regional train to the SIGNAL IDUNA PARK station or by underground towards Westfalenhallen and Stadion;
- the U45 line runs more frequently between the main railway station and the stadium area around match time;
- there are more than 10,000 parking spaces around the stadium, but some areas require a parking permit secured in advance;
- parking area E3 is designated for away supporters, while drivers are advised to follow traffic signs because certain roads may be closed on match day;
- the entrances to Signal Iduna Park usually open two and a half hours before kick-off.
With a full house, supporters should not assume that the final thirty minutes before kick-off will be enough for a relaxed entry. The club warns that queues can form at the entrances during the busiest period. Bags are limited to a maximum size of DIN A4, so it is practical to arrive with as few belongings as possible.
It is worth securing tickets in time. Visitors arriving from outside Dortmund should plan their return journey with extra time because, after the match, large numbers of people head towards stations and car parks at the same time.
Dortmund as the host city
The stadium is close enough to the city centre for Dortmund Hauptbahnhof to be a practical starting point for travellers arriving by rail. Around Westfalenhallen and Strobelallee, a large pedestrian zone forms on match day, while after the final whistle visitors should expect a slower departure because of the mass of spectators and temporary traffic restrictions.
For away supporters, the simplest plan is to arrive early, use the designated routes and leave extra time for the return journey.
What to watch from the first whistle
The first question will be how high Dortmund want to defend. If Kovač sends his team aggressively towards Bayern's first phase of build-up play, we will see plenty of duels and attempts to win the second ball. If the hosts drop a few metres deeper, the priority will be to close the centre and force Bayern to circulate the ball towards the flanks.
The second question concerns Dortmund's back line. The status of Schlotterbeck, Anton and the other players who were unavailable against Roma could directly affect how boldly BVB can hold a high defensive line. Against Kane, every poor judgement of depth can be punished, especially when Olise or Díaz are already moving into the space behind the centre-backs.
The third issue is the state of Bayern's attacking rotation. Kompany has a large number of high-quality options, but the end of the summer brought different preparation programmes and players returning at different stages. Therefore, the line-up should be viewed not only through the names involved but also through their readiness for high intensity throughout the entire match.
Finally, set pieces could carry significant weight. In the last league meeting between these teams, Dortmund scored from a set piece, while Bayern showed that they can decide a match in the late stages as well. In a match for a trophy, one well-delivered corner or free kick can completely change both teams' plans.
It is worth securing tickets in time. At Signal Iduna Park, an evening is expected with clear competitive stakes, strong pressure from the stands and a clash between teams that need no special reason to raise the tempo.
Sources:
- Bundesliga.com - information on the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup, the final 2025/26 standings, player statistics and the latest head-to-head meetings.
- Borussia Dortmund - report from the match against AS Roma, list of absentees, information on Signal Iduna Park, entry, transport and parking.
- FC Bayern München - information on the final phase of preparations, players returning to group training and the schedule before the Supercup.
- Arsenal FC - result and course of the Arsenal - Borussia Dortmund pre-season match.