Borussia Dortmund 1-2 Bayern Munich: Top performers in Franz Beckenbauer Supercup

Bayern Munich continued their recent good run of results against arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund on Saturday. The defending Bundesliga champions clinched a 2-1 win against Dortmund in the Franz Beckenbauer Cup.

It was far from a vintage performance from Bayern, but they deserved to win after dominating the majority of the game. Nathaniel Brown and Michael Olise scored goals in the first half to give Bayern a 2-0 lead. Dortmund rallied in the second half and got back into the game through a goal from Fabio Silva.

Die Roten held their nerves to see out the rest of the game and lift the first silverware of the season. Let us look at the top three performers from the first Der Klassiker of the season.

Nathaniel Brown

Vincent Kompany handed Nathaniel Brown his first competitive start for Bayern against Dortmund. However, his first start came in a unique position as he played behind Harry Kane in the number ten role.

Brown didn’t disappoint despite starting in a different role. The German international linked the attack and midfield by keeping things tidy. He timed his run to perfection to open the scoring through a tidy finish. Brown didn’t create clear-cut chances, but he kept the game ticking in the final third. He also had a brilliant chance at the end of the first half to double Die Roten’s lead. He also went past players at a good success rate, completing 75% of his dribbles on Saturday.

Considering it was his competitive debut for Bayern, Brown did a very good job in an unfamiliar position. However, this game highlighted that his versatility will give Die Roten a lot of tactical flexibility this season.

Michael Olise

Despite having minimal pre-season, Michael Olise was one of the best players on the pitch. The French forward showed a great bit of awareness in the build-up to Bayern’s second goal. He capitalised on the misplaced pass from Jobe Bellingham and carried the ball into the final third. After seeing the position of Gregor Kobel and being pushed by defenders, Olise cleverly flicked the ball into the net.

Apart from scoring a very clever goal, Olise created four chances in the game. He was also efficient with the ball. Despite having next to no pre-season, Olise has continued from where he left off last season.

Bayern will be relieved to see Olise staying at the club despite strong interest from Real Madrid. The Bavarian faithful will hope to see Olise sign a new contract at Die Roten later this season.

Aleksandar Pavlovic

It was a difficult summer for Aleksandar Pavlovic as he struggled to perform well for Germany at the World Cup. The young central midfielder has taken the criticism on the chin and worked hard in the pre-season. His hard work yielded results in the first competitive game of the season as he was the best midfielder on the pitch in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup.

Pavlovic completed a staggering 94% of the 103 passes he attempted against Dortmund. He helped Bayern dominate the game by being secure in possession. The 22-year-old also created one chance in the game.

Along with showing his quality on the ball, Pavlovic also excelled defensively. He made four interceptions and seven recoveries in the game. The German midfielder won 67% of his aerial duels, but needs to improve when it comes to winning ground duels.

Pavlovic’s confidence will certainly be boosted after delivering a near-perfect performance against Dortmund.

Stats courtesy- Fotmob