Bayern ready to fight for first trophy of the season

A new season begins – and there's a trophy up for grabs straight away. On Saturday, FC Bayern contest their first competitive fixture in the 2023 DFL-Supercup against RB Leipzig at the Allianz Arena (live text and free Web Radio commentary from 20:45 CEST on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app). The two teams met in the same competition last season, with the record Supercup winners from Munich claiming their 10th title with a 5-3 win in Leipzig. As ever, our preview has all the info you need:

The pictures from Friday's final training session:

The state of play for Bayern

For Thomas Tuchel and his team, memories of the last encounter with RB Leipzig are still fresh. The 3-1 defeat at home on the penultimate matchday of last season almost cost the Munich men the Bundesliga title – it was only the crazy season finale in Cologne that brought the championship, and with it participation in this year's DFL-Supercup. "It's present, it was our last home match. We have something to make up for there," said the 49-year-old head coach. However, Tuchel sees his team as "in a completely different shape, particularly in terms of resilience and zest" ahead of their latest clash, adding: "Now we face Leipzig straight away in the Supercup. Obviously we want to win."

The tactician is pleased with his side's preparations for the new campaign. Four of the five friendlies ended in victory, with only the game against Champions League winners Manchester City resulting in a narrow 2-1 defeat. Tuchel therefore believes his players are ready for the start of the serious business: "There's been a good spirit and high quality in training for several weeks," he revealed. The Supercup clash should now be "another important step" in the team's development and towards a successful season. "It never stops, it's a process we've started." 

Find all of Thomas Tuchel's statements from the press conference here:

The opponents: RB Leipzig

It's not only since the 3-1 success at the Allianz Arena in May that Leipzig have known about their own strengths. "It feels very good to win there. We want to repeat that on Saturday," said midfielder Kevin Kampl in an interview on the club's website. "We're massively looking forward to the match. We have the opportuntiy to win a trophy – and you don't get that chance all too often." This confidence doesn't come from nowhere. At the end of last season, the Saxons crowned a run of seven consecutive wins in all competitions by defending their DFB Cup title, beating Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 in the final.

However, the makeup of Marco Rose's squad has changed since then. No fewer than 12 players have left the club, including big names like Christopher Nkunku (Chelsea), Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool), Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City), André Silva (Real Sociedad) and new Bayern man Konrad Laimer. Young, promising talents such as attackers Benjamin Sesko and Xavi Simons (both 20) and midfielder Nicolas Seiwald (22) have been brought in to fill those gaps. It will be interesting to see how this new-look team fares following the summer upheaval.

More stats ahead of the clash with Leipzig:

The team news for FC Bayern vs. RB Leipzig

Bayern will be without Raphaël Guerreiro in the Supercup due to a calf injury sustained during pre-season. Manuel Neuer (individual training after lower leg fracture) also remains sidelined. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (knee) and Thomas Müller (hip) are "currently free of pain", confirmed Tuchel. "If that remains the case, they're options for the squad."

For Leipzig, first-choice goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi is still working his way back from a cruciate ligament tear. Amadou Haidara (calf) as well as summer signings El Chadaille Bitshiabu (medial collateral ligament tear) and Christoph Baumgartner (muscular injury) are also not available. Defender Lukas Klostermann is fit again after a muscle strain, though.

What the coaches say

We've looked back at some memorable Supercup encounters in the past: