Robert Lewandowski scored twice for Bayern Munich to beat Borussia Dortmund 3-1 in the German Super Cup and give coach Julian Nagelsmann his first win in charge on Tuesday.
The Poland star, who scored a record 41 goals in the Bundesliga last season, opened the scoring in the 41st minute and got the decisive third goal in the 74th after Marco Reus had pulled one back for Dortmund.
Nagelsmann had endured a difficult start as Bayern had not won any of its four preseason friendlies and was held to a draw at Borussia M├╢nchengladbach in the BundesligaтАЩs opening game on Friday.
тАЬI’d like to start hoarding titles,тАЭ Nagelsmann said after claiming his first with his first win as Bayern coach. тАЬMy predecessor and the players, they collected a lot.тАЭ
The Super Cup was preceded by a minuteтАЩs silence for former Bayern and West Germany great Gerd M├╝ller, though it quickly became a minuteтАЩs applause as Thomas M├╝ller (no relation) held a jersey with M├╝llerтАЩs old No. 9. M├╝ller, who was known as тАЬDer BomberтАЭ for his scoring prowess, died Sunday, aged 75.
Bayern made a better start but the biggest early chance fell to Reus when he was played through by Jude Bellingham. Manuel Neuer produced a brilliant save with his right foot.
DortmundтАЩs 16-year-old Youssoufa Moukoko thought heтАЩd scored but the goal was ruled out for offside, and Neuer produced another great save to deny Erling Haaland after Kingsley Coman flashed a shot just wide at the other end.
Lewandowski finally made the breakthrough before halftime when he surged through the middle to meet Serge GnabryтАЩs cross with a thumping header inside the left post.
DortmundтАЩs defense switched off for BayernтАЩs second in the 49th, set up by Alphonso Davies and scored by M├╝ller after LewandowskiтАЩs heel took the ball past Gregory Kobel in goal.
Haaland had a goal ruled out for offside in response, but Reus got the home fans going again in the 64th. Bellingham laid the ball back and the Dortmund captain struck a perfect curling shot from outside the penalty area inside the right post.
Lewandowski dashed DortmundтАЩs hopes of a comeback, however, when Corentin Tolisso blocked Manuel AkanjiтАЩs attempted kick out and Lewandowski had all the time he needed to pick his spot.
тАЬGutted I couldn’t get my hands on the trophy, just like the lads are,тАЭ said Bellingham, who was unstoppable at times for Dortmund. тАЬWe’ll definitely use it to motivate us in the coming weeks. Now that the game is done, we just want to focus on the next one.тАЭ
This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.
