Sunday 6 August 2017 09:41, UK
Bayern Munich overcame their shaky pre-season form to defeat rivals Borussia Dortmund in the German Supercup final, courtesy of a dramatic 5-4 penalty shootout victory at Signal Iduna Park.
The defending Bundesliga champions have struggled for consistency in pre-season - suffering high-profile defeats to AC Milan, Inter, Liverpool and Napoli in recent weeks.
However, after being booed off the pitch by their own supporters at the Audi Cup earlier this week, Carlo Ancelotti's side bounced back to defeat their bitter rivals on penalties, after Joshua Kimmich's late strike had salvaged a 2-2 draw for the Bavarians.
Both sides created chances in the opening moments of the match but it was Dortmund who took the lead when United States international Christian Pulisic calmly slotted past second-choice goalkeeper Sven Ulreich following a mistake at the back by Javi Martinez.
Dortmund's lead lasted all of six minutes before Robert Lewandowski swept home from close range to equalise from an offside position against his former club.
Thomas Muller drew a great save from Borussia goalkeeper Roman Burki after fine build-up play from Franck Ribery, and then hit the post with a header as Bayern finished the first half the stronger of the two teams.
It was the defending DFB Cup champions, however, who retook the lead midway through the second period when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang produced a sublime finish over the onrushing Ulreich after beating the offside trap.
Time appeared to be running out for Bayern but with three minutes left on the clock, Kimmich took advantage of confusion in the Dortmund box to scramble home a dramatic equaliser - sending the match straight to penalties.
After both sides had traded two successful spot-kicks, Kimmich was the first to miss - Burki saving low to his right. Dortmund failed to take advantage of that miss, with Sebastian Rode also expertly denied by Ulreich.
Four more successful penalties followed before Ulreich produced another magnificent save to deny Marc Bartra and hand Bayern a record sixth German Supercup title.
