Clinical Reds claim first trophy of new term

Bayern opened the 2016/17 campaign with a powerful message of intent to their domestic and European rivals after Carlo Ancelotti’s first competitive match in charge ended in a 2-0 win away to arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund in Sunday’s German Supercup. Arturo Vidal and Thomas Müller scored the second-half goals in a quality contest in front of a capacity 81,360 crowd at Signal Iduna Park as the Bavarians reclaimed the prestigious curtain-raiser trophy they last won back in 2012.

Strong FCB line-up

In the build-up, Ancelotti had promised to field his strongest available line-up and the Italian was as good as his word by sending out a starting XI packed with big-name stars, including new signing and former Borussia skipper Mats Hummels.

The champions lined-up with Manuel Neuer in goal, David Alaba, Hummels, Javi Martinez and captain Philipp Lahm in a back four, Vidal, Xabi Alonso and Thiago in midfield, and Franck Ribery, ex-BVB man Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Müller up front.

Thomas Tuchel’s home team included ex-FCB enforcer Sebastian Rode, with Mario Götze, the black-and-yellows’ other summer signing from Munich, starting on the bench.

Action-packed first half

After referee Tobias Welz set the game underway on a pleasant evening in the Ruhr Valley, the home team had the better of the early chances with Shinji Kagawa and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang shooting wide of Neuer’s right-hand upright, both from raking passes delivered by former Barcelona stopper Marc Bartra, before Alonso survived a big shout for handball in the box.

Ancelotti’s men found chances hard to come by against Tuchel’s lively side and there was some tasty stuff too on the half-hour with rapid-fire yellows for Ribery, Alonso and BVB right-back Felix Passlack.

Neuer had to look sharp to deny Ousmane Dembélé and Adrian Ramos as the men in red fought a desperate rearguard action, but a Vidal shot from distance swung the momentum and home keeper Roman Bürki pulled off a minor miracle on 38 minutes to keep out the Chilean’s close-range header from a Martinez’ cross. Bürki then excelled again, just beating Lewandowski to a Müller cross in the last incident before the break.

Arturo’s opener, Thomas on target

Neuer was in action again at the start of the second half with diving saves from Passlack and Dembélé, but the visitors were beginning to look dangerous on the break and the opening goal fell in the 58th minute when Vidal forced home the rebound after Bürki could only parry the midfielder’s low drive from Lewandowski’s lay-off.

Kingsley Coman and Joshua Kimmich replaced Ribery and the limping Vidal after the hour, with Neuer showing great feet to outwit Aubameyang as FCB comfortably contained their flagging opponents for a spell. The men in red duly doubled the lead with 11 minutes left when Müller turned a Hummels knock-down over the line following a corner from the right.

Chris Hamley reporting from Signal Iduna Park for fcbayern.de