Bayern edge rivals in curtain-raiser at Signal Iduna Park

Bayern Munich got their 2025-26 campaign off to a silverware-laden start, beating Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup at the Signal Iduna Park on Saturday. Goals from Nathaniel Brown and Michael Olise inside the opening 45 minutes — Olise's coming in first-half stoppage time — put the visitors in control, and although Fabio Silva pulled one back for the hosts, a late red card for Ramy Bensebaini ensured Dortmund finished with 10 men and empty-handed.

The defeat means Dortmund have now lost the Supercup three times in a row, equalling the worst run in the competition's history — a streak previously endured by Bayern themselves between 2013-14 and 2015-16, including penalty shoot-outs. For Bayern, it was a 12th Supercup triumph, their fifth in the last six editions, with their only blemish in that span a 2023 loss to RB Leipzig.

Kobel points to promising signs for Dortmund

Despite the setback on home soil, Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel struck an optimistic tone, insisting the team will only improve as the season wears on.

"Bayern had very good chances throughout the game and could have scored more goals," Kobel said. "In the end, it was a shame because we still had chances. There were a lot of good moments here and there; you could see some promising signs.

"You could also tell that many of the lads are still new and don't have that much experience yet, which is normal in a situation like this. But I believe we'll keep getting stronger."

Head coach Niko Kovac was particularly encouraged by his side's response after the break, having seen his team trail 2-0 at the interval. "It was an intense game from both teams. There were chances on both sides," Kovac said. "We got off to a solid start, but then we let Bayern gain the upper hand with a few mistakes, and we had to defend a lot. Bayern had two more good chances at the end of the first half.

"The second goal before half-time, in stoppage time, was frustrating. When you go into half-time down 1-0, you still have a chance to come back in our stadium. The second half was really good. We took more risks. We had more possession, were more dangerous, and were more aggressive."

Kane savours silverware in rival territory

Harry Kane, who lifted the trophy in front of a hostile Dortmund crowd, underlined the value of starting the campaign with a trophy.

"It was an important win to start the season, especially away at Borussia Dortmund," Kane said. "It was a good way to start. We had a few chances to put the game to bed. We didn't manage it, so it remained at 2-0 despite our dominance. That's always a dangerous result, because things can get tight again. That's what then happened, but in the end we're pleased it was enough."

Vincent Kompany, the Bayern head coach, praised the mentality of a side that included players with limited pre-season minutes. "It was a very good first half. We also showed a lot of willingness in the second half," Kompany said. "You saw the heart and character of the team. Some of the guys had only trained a few times and played 90 minutes today – that's impressive. The most important thing is the mentality, and that was spot on. We won today. From tomorrow, the focus turns to the next game. We're pleased and happy today, but tomorrow we're hungry again."

Olise stands out as Bayern's streak rolls on

Michael Olise was the standout performer, directly involved in both of Bayern's goals — scoring one and assisting the other. It was his 15th competitive match for the club in which he has registered at least a goal and an assist. The win also extended a remarkable scoring sequence: beginning with last season's Supercup triumph over Stuttgart, Bayern have now found the net in 56 consecutive competitive matches, racking up 186 goals in the process.

Statistically, Bayern were the dominant force. They registered 21 shots with 10 on target, while Dortmund managed just eight — worth 1.6 expected goals (xG) — seven of which came after the interval as they rallied too late.