The 2026/27 German football season kicked off with reigning league and DFB Pokal champions, Bayern Munich, visiting Borussia Dortmund for the Franz Beckenbauer Super Cup.

Fans expecting an exciting end-to-end match were greeted with a game dominated by Bayern, as the hosts struggled to challenge goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy came closest to scoring in the first half but failed to find the net.

Bayern controlled the game, and several saves from Gregor Kobel kept Dortmund in contention. The breakthrough came when Michael Olise set up Nathanial Brown, who scored to give Bayern a 1-0 lead in his first competitive match for the club.

Dortmund had a goal from Ramy Bensebaini ruled out for offside. However, before halftime, Bensebaini failed to reclaim possession from Olise, who maneuvered past him and Waldemar Anton to extend Bayern’s lead to 2-0.

After halftime, Dortmund showed more attacking intent with the addition of Giannis Konstantelias but continued to struggle to create significant chances against Neuer.

Konstantelias sparked life into Dortmund’s attack, assisting Daniel Svensson, whose cut-back was finished by Fabio Silva to make it 2-1. Just as Dortmund appeared to be gaining momentum, Bensebaini received a straight red card, reducing them to ten men.

In the closing moments, Dortmund had a golden opportunity to equalize when Anton set up Maximilian Beier for a one-on-one with Neuer, but Beier’s shot went over the bar.

Ultimately, Bayern Munich emerged as deserving winners, maintaining control for most of the match. Despite a late push from Dortmund, it was evident that they have much ground to cover to rival Bayern.

The match highlighted the disparity between the two teams; while new signings like Konstantinos Karetsas and Konstantelias appear promising, the quality of many returning players remains a concern. With coach Niko Kovac struggling to maximize player potential, Dortmund will likely face stiff competition for second place from Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart.

Looking ahead, Bayern will open their Bundesliga season against Stuttgart at home on Friday, while Dortmund is set to face Hamburg on Saturday.

Borussia Dortmund:

Gregor Kobel (6), Joane Gadou (5), Waldemar Anton (5), Ramy Bensebaini (2), Julian Ryerson (5), Jobe Bellingham (4), Felix Nmecha (5), Daniel Svensson (5), Konstantinos Karetsas (5), Samuele Inacio (5), Serhou Guirassy (5)

Others: Giannis Konstantelias (6), Maximilian Beier (5), Joey Veerman (5), Fabio Silva (6), Marcel Sabitzer (5)

Bayern Munich:

Manuel Neuer (5), Josip Stanisic (6), Jonathan Tah (6), Kim Min-Jae (6), Nathanial Brown (7), Joshua Kimmich (6), Aleksander Pavlovic (6), Michael Olise (8), Konrad Laimer (5), Luis Diaz (6), Harry Kane (6)

Others: Alphonso Davies (5), Ismael Saibari (-), Tom Bischof (-)

GGFN Man of the Match: Michael Olise (8)

After a standout summer with France, Olise’s influence on Bayern is becoming increasingly apparent. His creativity was evident, particularly in his first-half goal, suggesting that this season may see a shift towards Olise taking the reins as the team’s primary playmaker.

Others: Jamal Musiala (5), Tom Bischof (-), Min-Jae Kim (-), Leon Goretzka) (-)

GGFN Man of the Match: Harry Kane

The official opening of the 2026/27 German football season began with reigning champions of the league and DFB Pokal, Bayern Munich, travelling to Borussia Dortmund for the Franz Beckenbauer Super Cup.

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If you were expecting this game to be an end-to-end classic, you forgot how Niko Kovac plays football. It is safe to say the first half was dominated by Bayern, and the hosts rarely got a chance to challenge Manuel Neuer. Serhou Guirassy had the best chance of the first half but was unable to convert.

Whereas Gregor Kobel had to make several saves to keep out the reigning Bundesliga champions. It would be Bayern who opened the scoring when Michael Olise chested a ball in the direction of Nathanial Brown, who was playing as a number 10, and after scoring in his first World Cup game for Germany, Brown scored in his first ‘competitive’ game for Bayern to make it 1-0.

Dortmund would have a Ramy Bensebaini goal disallowed due to offside. But, just before the break, Bensebaini would find himself at the scene of the crime as he was unable to win the ball off of Michael Olise, and the Frenchman beat Bensebaini and Waldemar Anton before making it 2-0.

After the break, and the introduction of Giannis Konstantelias, Dortmund were more positive, but they still struggled to challenge Neuer in the Bayern goal.

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It would be Konstantelias again who would kick Dortmund into gear and bring them back into the game when his pass found Daniel Svensson, who cut the ball back, and it was converted by Fabio Silva to make it 2-1.

As it looked like Niko Kovac’s side would get back into the game, Bensebaini would get himself sent off with a straight red card.

Right at the end of the game, Dortmund had a clear-cut chance to equalise when Anton played in Maximilian Beier, but despite the German being one-on-one with Manuel Neuer, he somehow skied the ball.

Overall, Bayern were deserved winners; they were in total control for much of the game, and held die Schwarzgelben at bay only until the final 20 minutes or so. From what was shown today, it will take a lot to displace the reigning Bundesliga champions at the top of the table.

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For Dortmund, it showed the gap in quality between them and Bayern. While the signings of Konstantinos Karetsas and Konstanelias look very positive, most of the squad who are still around from last season, are very much average and with a head coach in Niko Kovac who really doesnt possess the ability to get the best out of some of these players, Dortmund will likely face more of a fight for their second place from the likes of Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart.

Next weekend, Bayern will kick off the Bundesliga season at home to Stuttgart on Friday, while Dortmund play Hamburg on Saturday.

Borussia Dortmund:

Gregor Kobel (6), Joane Gadou (5), Waldemar Anton (5), Ramy Bensebaini (2), Julian Ryerson (5), Jobe Bellingham (4), Felix Nmecha (5), Daniel Svensson (5), Konstantinos Karetsas (5), Samuele Inacio (5), Serhou Guirassy (5)

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Others: Giannis Konstantelias (6), Maximilian Beier (5), Joey Veerman (5), Fabio Silva (6), Marcel Sabitzer (5)

Bayern Munich:

Manuel Neuer (5), Josip Stanisic (6), Jonathan Tah (6), Kim Min-Jae (6), Nathanial Brown (7), Joshua Kimmich (6), Aleksander Pavlovic (6), Michael Olise (8), Konrad Laimer (5), Luis Diaz (6), Harry Kane (6)

Others: Alphonso Davies (5), Ismael Saibari (-), Tom Bischof (-)

GGFN Man of the Match: Michael Olise (8)

Following his exploits over the summer with France, you get the feeling that this season we will slowly see Bayern transition from Harry Kane’s team to Olise’s. The 24-year-old is clearly their creative fulcrum, and his goal just before half-time showed how good he is with the ball at close control.

GGFN | Jack Meenan