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Bayern Munich start 2017-18 campaign with DFL Super Cup tie

By Kiran Thakare

MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 08: Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Muenchen in action against Marc Aregall Bartra (M) of Dortmund and Sokratis of Dortmund (L) during the Bundesliga match between Bayern Muenchen and Borussia Dortmund at Allianz Arena on April 8, 2017 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Scheuber/Getty Images Fuer MAN)
MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 08: Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Muenchen in action against Marc Aregall Bartra (M) of Dortmund and Sokratis of Dortmund (L) during the Bundesliga match between Bayern Muenchen and Borussia Dortmund at Allianz Arena on April 8, 2017 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Scheuber/Getty Images Fuer MAN) /
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Bayern Munich face Borussia Dortmund in the first competitive game of 2017-18 season.

Bayern Munich will travel to Signal Iduna Park tomorrow for the Supercup game against Borussia Dortmund. The match is the curtain raiser for the new season in Germany. Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga title last season while Dortmund won the DFB Pokal.

Bayern Munich has endured a terrible pre-season. The Bundesliga Champions were able to win only one out of their six games which were spread across the tour of Asia and the Audi Cup in Germany. Bayern were knocked out of the DFB Pokal cup by Dortmund in the semi-final stage last year.

On the other hand, Dortmund also had a mixed pre-season. Dortmund got the better of Bayern twice last season. However, they failed to mount a title challenge as RB Leipzig finished second in the Bundesliga and Dortmund was hardly a threat for Bayern.

Team News

There are a huge number of absentees for Bayern Munich tommorow. The Bavarians have seven first team players out due to injuries. Manuel Neuer is back in training but this match is too soon for him to return.

In defense Jerome Boateng is still not 100 per cent fit since his injury in May. David Alaba suffered a knock against Napoli which keeps him out of this game as well. Juan Bernat remains the long term absentee as he will be out for three months due to a knee injury.

James Rodriguez and Thiago Alcantara also suffered muscular injuries against Napoli. Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that the Colombian will be back in two to three weeks. Arjen Robben is still recovering from an injury which he suffered on holiday.

Predicted XI-

Bayern Munich will not be able to field their best eleven but Ancelotti can still field a competitive side tommorow. Sven Ulreich will be in goal after getting some crucial gametime after returning from injury he suffered in May.

Mats Hummels and Javi Martinez will be the center-back pair in the heart of defense. Joshua Kimmich will take up the new role of right-back for Bayern. Ancelotti will have to choose between Marco Freidl and Rafinha for the left-back role and it is likely he will go for the Brazilian.

In the centre of the park, Arturo Vidal will partner with the new signing Corentin Tolisso. Franck Ribery, Thomas Muller and Kingsley Coman will comprise the attack and the line will be lead by Robert Lewandowski.

Ulreich- Rafinha,Hummels,Martinez,Kimmich-Vidal,Tolisso-Ribery,Muller,Coman- Lewandowski

Opposition Focus-

Peter Bosz will face his first competitive match since his appointment as Dortmund manager in June. They will also have new players in Omer Toprak and Mahmoud Dahoud who will make their competitive debut.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has not moved this summer and will be a key player for Dortmund against Bayern. Along with the speedy striker, Ousmane Dembele is another player which can hurt Bayern. There will be number of key battles which will shape the result of this fixture, however these two players are the most danngerous for Bayern.

There will be no change in style due to new manager as Bosz also prefers a fast and attacking type of play focused on hurting opponents on the counter. Ancelotti has expressed concerns about his team conceding a lot of goals in the pre-season. The back four will have to be at their best to stop this youthful Dortmund on Saturday.

Next: Bayern vs. BVB: Four key Supercup battles

Prediction-

Borussia Dortmund 1- 2 Bayern Munich