The stage is finally set! The all new season will begin from 5th August onwards, as Bundesliga top dogs Borussia Dortmund host Bayern Munich in the DFL Supercup. Bayern pipped the Ruhr giants in last year’s Supercup, however, with new man Peter Bosz at the helm, Dortmund’s team dynamics are set to change significantly. Both the sides have experienced quite a poor pre-season campaign, but are expected to perform at their peak in the big clash. As we build up to the much-awaited final between these two titans, here is the predicted lineup for Borussia Dortmund to feature against the mighty Bayern.
Goalkeeper: Roman Bürki will start as the man between the sticks for Dortmund. He will be looking for a godly performance against the undisputed Champions of Germany.
Right Back: Veteran defender Łukasz Piszczek is set to remain a vital part of Peter Bosz’s strategy. The Polish International will look to stop the threat coming from the right flank.
Center Back(R): Sokratis Papastathopoulos will lead the defensive charge for the Black and Yellows. The Greek International is sure to play a pivotal part for Dortmund in the upcoming season.
Centre Back(L): It will be interesting to see as to who partners Sokratis in the central defensive pairing. We can expect Marc Bartra to be picked ahead of Ömer Toprak, who is relatively new to the club. But no guarantees there.
Left Back: Marcel Schmelzer’s injury will leave a huge gap in the defence. Erik Durm is expected to replace the injured BVB club captain against Bayern. New signing Dan-Axel Zagadou could also be an option for Peter Bosz if Durm fails to get rid of his hip problems.
Central Defensive Midfield(R): Nuri Sahin is expected to start against Bayern Munich. Bosz has some faith in the Turkish midfielder, who will be tasked with replacing the injured Julian Weigl.
Central Defensive Midfield(L): Gonzalo Castro might partner Nuri Sahin in holding midfield. The former Bayer Leverkusen midfielder hasn’t particularly been impressive against bigger teams. It will be his chance to finally shine against the Bavarians.
Right Wing: Ousmané Dembéle will no doubt be a key figure for Dortmund in offensive positions. The Frenchman completely rattled Bayern, the last time these two teams faced each other in the DFB Cup Semis. His goal ended up making the difference between the two sides. Dembéle will need to be in top form if Dortmund are to have any hopes of clinching the Supercup.
Central Attacking Midfield: Mario Götze might make a surprise appearance against Bayern. The German World Cup Winner looked good in the pre-season, after coming back from a metabolic disorder. Coach Peter Bosz has high expectations from the 25-year-old.
Left Wing: Andre Schürrle will be the left winger for Dortmund. The former Chelsea striker will be itching to get going, after a terrible first season with Dortmund. He definitely needs to work more on his dribbling abilities in order to thrive as a winger.
Striker: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will most certainly start as the lone striker upfront. Last season’s top scorer looks all set to keep the good form going.
