The new German football season begins with one of the biggest fixtures imaginable.
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich will headline the 2026 Franz Beckenbauer Supercup at Signal Iduna Park on Saturday, August 22, with the first domestic trophy of the new campaign on the line. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:30 CEST in Dortmund.
It is also a fascinating meeting between the Bundesliga champions and runners-up from last season. Bayern completed a domestic double in 2025/26, winning both the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal, while Dortmund finished second in the league.
For Cambodian football fans, this is the perfect way to start another Bundesliga campaign.
It is Der Klassiker, a packed Signal Iduna Park and a match featuring stars such as Harry Kane, Luis Díaz, Joshua Kimmich and Jobe Bellingham.
More importantly, both teams will see the match as an early opportunity to send a message.
Bayern Arrive as the Team to Beat 🔴
Bayern Munich enter the Supercup with the strongest possible credentials.
Vincent Kompany’s team enjoyed an outstanding 2025/26 campaign, losing only three competitive matches throughout the season and scoring a club-record 184 goals across all competitions.
A huge part of that attacking success came from Harry Kane.
The England striker scored an extraordinary 61 goals in 51 competitive appearances last season, a figure that made him the most prolific scorer among Europe’s top-five leagues.
Bayern have also strengthened their attacking options with the arrival of Luis Díaz, giving Kompany another dangerous player capable of creating and finishing chances.
The question is whether Dortmund can prevent Bayern’s attacking quality from controlling the match.
Dortmund Have Home Advantage
If Bayern have the stronger recent record, Dortmund have one major advantage: Signal Iduna Park.
The stadium is expected to be sold out for the Supercup, creating the kind of atmosphere that can transform an early-season match into something much more intense.
Dortmund’s recent history against Bayern, however, is a concern.
BVB have won just one of their last 16 competitive meetings with Bayern, while the Munich side are unbeaten in their last eight competitive visits to Dortmund.
Those statistics underline the size of Dortmund’s challenge.
But they also provide extra motivation.
A victory at home would immediately give Niko Kovač’s team confidence heading into the Bundesliga campaign.
Dortmund’s Defensive Strength Could Be Crucial
While Bayern’s attack receives most of the attention, Dortmund can point to an impressive defensive record.
BVB kept 15 clean sheets in the Bundesliga last season, the best total in the division and equal to the club record.
That defensive organisation could be their biggest weapon against Kane and Bayern’s collection of attacking talent.
Dortmund will need to remain compact between the midfield and defensive lines.
Allowing Kane space around the penalty area could be extremely dangerous.
The same applies to Díaz and Michael Olise, both capable of attacking from wide areas and creating one-on-one situations.
Jobe Bellingham Faces a Major Test
One of the most interesting players to watch will be Jobe Bellingham.
The young midfielder enjoyed an encouraging first season at Dortmund and is expected to have an important role in Kovač’s midfield.
Bundesliga’s tactical preview highlighted Bellingham and Felix Nmecha as Dortmund’s central midfield pairing during recent preseason matches. Bellingham made 20 Bundesliga starts last season, demonstrating the growing responsibility placed on his shoulders.
Against Bayern, however, he will face one of the most experienced midfield units in European football.
Joshua Kimmich’s ability to control possession and dictate tempo could make the midfield battle decisive.
If Dortmund can disrupt Bayern’s rhythm, they have a much better chance of keeping the game competitive.
Harry Kane Is the Main Threat
For Dortmund, stopping Harry Kane will be the obvious priority.
The striker’s numbers from last season are extraordinary, but his influence goes beyond goals.
Kane can drop into midfield, link with teammates and create space for runners around him.
Dortmund’s centre-backs will therefore need to make difficult decisions.
Follow Kane too closely and space can open behind them.
Give him room and he can turn around and create a scoring opportunity.
That tactical battle could define the match.
Bayern’s Recent Dominance Adds Pressure
The historical numbers make uncomfortable reading for Dortmund supporters.
Bayern have lost only once in their last 16 competitive matches against BVB and have avoided defeat in eight consecutive competitive games at Signal Iduna Park.
Bayern have also won the last two Supercup meetings between the clubs, defeating Dortmund 3-2 in 2020/21 and 3-1 in 2021/22.
However, Dortmund’s best chance may be that this is a new season.
Preseason form, new signings and tactical adjustments can change the balance.
New Players Could Change the Equation
Both teams have made adjustments during the summer.
Dortmund’s squad includes new arrivals such as Joey Veerman and Giannis Konstantelias, while Bayern have added players including Ismael Saibari and Nathaniel Brown.
That makes the Supercup more than a battle for silverware.
It is also a first major test of how quickly those new players can fit into their respective systems.
For managers Kovač and Kompany, the match offers valuable information before the Bundesliga season gets underway.
What Cambodian Fans Should Watch
There are several key storylines worth following:
Harry Kane vs Dortmund’s defence — Can BVB contain Europe’s most prolific striker from last season?
Kimmich vs Bellingham — Which midfield can control the tempo?
Dortmund’s home advantage — Can the Yellow Wall inspire an upset?
Luis Díaz’s Bayern debut — Can the new signing immediately make an impact?
Kovač’s tactical plan — Can Dortmund finally find a solution to Bayern’s recent dominance?
These battles could make the Supercup one of the most entertaining fixtures of the opening weekend.
Final Prediction
On paper, Bayern Munich appear to have the advantage.
Their recent record against Dortmund is outstanding, their attack produced an incredible number of goals last season and Harry Kane remains one of the most dangerous forwards in world football.
But Dortmund should not be underestimated.
They have home advantage, a strong defensive record and a squad capable of causing Bayern problems.
A fast Dortmund start could be essential. If BVB can turn the atmosphere inside Signal Iduna Park into pressure on Bayern, the match could become much closer than the historical numbers suggest.
Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 2-2 Bayern Munich — Bayern to win on penalties.
Final Thoughts
The Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich Supercup is about much more than the first trophy of the season.
It is another chapter in Germany’s biggest rivalry, a test of two new-season projects and an early indication of whether Dortmund can close the gap on Bayern.
For Bayern, victory would reinforce their domestic dominance.
For Dortmund, beating Bayern at Signal Iduna Park would send an immediate warning to the rest of the Bundesliga.
With Kane leading the Bayern attack, Bellingham driving Dortmund’s midfield and thousands of supporters creating an extraordinary atmosphere, Cambodian football fans have every reason to tune in.
The Bundesliga season has barely begun — but Der Klassiker is already ready to deliver. 🟡⚫🔴
