Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig are set to battle it out for DFL-Supercup glory at the Allianz Arena on Saturday evening.
As the 11-time consecutive Bundesliga champions, the Bavarians are bracing themselves for their 13th appearance in 14 Superup editions since its reintroduction in 2010 (W8, L4).
Led by Julian Nagelsmann, Bayern thrashed Leipzig 5-3 in this corresponding fixture last season, and new boss Thomas Tuchel will be keen to replicate his predecessor’s result this weekend.
Given the Munich outfit’s frequent appearance in the showpiece event, it’s barely a surprise they boast a record ten Supercup titles, including three in a row ahead of this clash.
Leipzig made their Supercup debut last year after lifting their first-ever major silverware, courtesy of a 2021/22 DFB-Pokal triumph.
They defended the crown in 2022/23, overcoming Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 in the final to book another title-deciding date against Bayern and an opportunity to avenge last season’s humbling.
However, Marco Rose has overseen a comprehensive squad overhaul in the summer transfer window, which could take its toll on Leipzig’s effort to win at the Allianz Stadium for the second time on the trot.
Match Preview
Despite finishing what Nagelsmann started by guiding Bayern to a record-extending 33rd Bundesliga title, Tuchel cannot be proud of the manner in which his men pipped Borussia Dortmund to the podium last term.
They had Mainz to thank for maintaining their supreme domestic run as Die Nullfunfer’s 2-2 draw at Signal Iduna Park on the final weekend handed the Bavarians another Bundesliga trophy.
Changes were necessary after this trophy-laden generation ran out of steam, with Bayern recruiting Kim Min-jae, Raphael Guerreiro and Konrad Leimer over the summer.
As if Tuchel’s attack needed more firepower after scoring four goals apiece against Liverpool and Monaco in their last two pre-season matches, the Germans are on the cusp of landing Harry Kane.
Sadio Mane’s move to Al-Nassr has opened the door for the Tottenham Hotspur talisman’s arrival, but he won’t feature in this encounter.
Leipzig’s bid to avenge last term’s Supercup heartache is all about the newcomers gelling quickly after they changed the face of the team that finished five points adrift of Bayern in the 2022/23 Bundesliga season.
Rose’s men have netted around €200 million from the sales of Christopher Nkunku, Josko Gvardiol and Dominik Szoboszlai, using those funds to land Lois Openda and Benjamin Sesko.
Fabio Carvalho and Xavi Simons have touched down at the Red Bull Arena on loan from Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain, respectively, to help Die Roten Bullen remain competitive on multiple fronts.
After winning their final three pre-season friendlies by an aggregate score of 16-2, Leipzig will fancy their chances of recreating a 3-1 victory they achieved on their most recent visit to Bayern.
Team News
With Manuel Neuer still on the sidelines with a broken leg and Yann Sommer quitting the club to join Inter Milan, Bayern will rely on Sven Ulrich to protect their net.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Thomas Muller are also in the treatment room.
Summer signing Guerreiro is out with a calf problem. But Min-jae is ready for his competitive debut after starting in the last two exhibition matches upon his big-money arrival from Napoli.
As for Leipzig, captain Peter Gulacsi is unavailable due to a knee injury, which means Janis Blaswich will be between the sticks.
Lukas Klostermann, Amadou Haidara and Christoph Baumgartner are three other high-profile absentees in the visiting squad.
Bayern Munich potential starting line-up:
(4-3-3): Sven Ulrich; Benjamin Pavard, Matthijs de Ligt, Kim Min-jae, Alphonso Davies; Konrad Laimer, Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka; Leroy Sane, Serge Gnabry, Kingsley Coman.
RB Leipzig potential starting line-up:
(4-2-3-1): Janis Blaswich; Benjamin Henrichs, Mohamed Simakan, Willi Orban, David Raum; Nicolas Seiwald, Xaver Schlager; Emil Forsberg, Dani Olmo, Timo Werner; Lois Openda.
We Say: Bayern Munich 2-1 RB Leipzig
Although both sides underwent significant changes in the summer and fared quite well in the build-up to this encounter, we expect Bayern to come out on top of this DFL-Supercup showpiece.
