Dortmund play against Bayern Munich at the German Supercup and the endless loop of Proverbs puts into motion again. “Play with a high priority,” “we know that we can beat Bayern”, “Duel at eye level” – it is this very subtle type of muscle game, which they in Dortmund now dominate and cultivate before each duel with Bayern. Where such verbal set pieces, mostly set by BVB CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke in the world, before the meeting on Saturday evening (20.30 clocks ZDF) cover the real question: How much Borussia Dortmund is really in this season?
The Supercup could it a first, albeit very preliminary answer to give. The game in Dortmund is sandwiched between all the Audi, telecom and Uli Hoeness cups, those pseudo tournaments that allow the major sponsors of German football during the summer break. Among all these balmy kicks almost goes under, that the game on Saturday is the only relevant sporting showdown before the season started. In Dortmund, it’s on the evening especially about prestige, but it is more than a careful palpation.
They hope to have a similar effect now on Borsigplatz. And up to coach Jürgen Klopp like no one really knows whether the Borussia is 2013/2014 to be stronger or weaker than BVB in the preseason – in which you made it at least to the Champions League final in the league but clearly fell short of Bavaria. International Mario Gotze, who is missing in the evening because of its long-term injury, it has made under slightly unpleasant circumstances as a direct competitor. That this is a weakness of the team, no one will dispute in Dortmund.
Henrich Mchitaryan from Armenia and the young Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon have all the facilities to be big player in black and yellow jersey. The Bundesliga is completely new territory for them, however, Michitaryan has violated this in preparation and will be unavailable on Saturday. Both are still currently the principle of hope. In addition to the central defender Sokratis of Werder Bremen, one that has already been proven in the league – but have to get behind the queue coming ‘duo Neven Subotic and Mats Hummels back.