PRETENDERS WOLFSBURG HOST CHAMPIONS BAYERN IN SUPERCUP

   

Cologne - The Bundesliga champions against the team that pushed them hardest last season – and won the DFB Cup for good measure: The 2015 German Supercup meeting of FC Bayern München and VfL Wolfsburg promises to be a classic by any standard of this popular season curtain-raiser.

The 'challengers' – the Cup winners or, in the event of a double, the league runners-up – have enjoyed home advantage in the fixture since 2011, and a sell-out 30,000 crowd at Wolfsburg's Volkswagen Arena will be joined by a live audience in over 200 countries around the world come the kick-off on Saturday, 1 August (20:30 CEST). With the Wolves widely expected to give Bayern an even closer run for their money in 2015/16, the game thus has a psychological resonance well beyond the trophy ceremony at its finish.

New stars, same hunger

© gettyimages / Alexandra Beier

Bayern have double grounds for particularly wanting to prevail in this one. For starters, they came up short in each of the last two Supercups, against Borussia Dortmund. "At the moment, we're totally focused on the game against Wolfsburg. It's time to go on the offensive. We've lost the last two – hopefully this will be an exception to the rule that good things come in threes," director of sport Matthias Sammer mused at the end of Bayern's eight-day summer tour of China.

There is also the matter of the sides' most recent meeting, kicking off the second half of the season at the end of January. The champions suffered their first defeat of the campaign as the hosts played themselves into a counter-attacking frenzy, on the way to a 4-1 win. It could, however, be a radically different Bayern midfield they find themselves up against on Saturday. Summer signing Douglas Costa showed impressive early form down the flanks in friendly wins against Valencia CF and FC Internazionale Milano in China while Arturo Vidal, freshly snapped up from Juventus, could yet get his first run-out against the Wolves.

Great expectations

© imago

While Bayern are playing in the Supercup for the ninth time, this will be Wolfsburg's first appearance. The chances of marking their debut by becoming the seventh team to win it don't look bad at all on paper, with the 'non-champions' having come out on top for the past four years. "We're delighted to have such a real highlight for the fans at the Volkswagen Arena, a week before kicking-off our defence of the DFB Cup," VfL sporting director Klaus Allofs said. "Getting to play for the first trophy of the season in front of our own supporters is a very special challenge and an added incentive for the team."

As well as Germany's recently crowned player of the year Kevin De Bruyne, that team includes World Cup winner André Schürrle and new signing Max Kruse. Given the firepower on show at both ends, this year's encounter looks well set to continue in the entertaining vein that has produced 49 goals in the 15 Supercups to date.

FIVE THINGS ABOUT THE SUPERCUP 2015

Vieirinha (l.) and Xabi Alonso (r.) will be bidding to get their hands on the Supercup this Saturday

History may not necessarily favour Bayern at the VW-Arena, but Thomas Müller has rarely covered his face in shame when he has played against the Wolves

Last time out at the VW-Arena, Wolfsburg inflicted Bayern's first defeat of last season in some style

Cologne – The first title of the season will be awarded on Saturday with the Supercup contested by VfL Wolfsburg and FC Bayern München.

Here are five things that you need to know about heading into the fixture which unlocks the 2015/16 season…

1. Wolfsburg make it a dozen

VfL Wolfsburg are the 12th club to participate in the Supercup. FC Bayern München on the other hand are set to be involved for the ninth time, making them the record participants ahead of Borussia Dortmund (seven), SV Werder Bremen (four), 1. FC Kaiserslautern (three) and FC Schalke 04 (two). VfB Stuttgart, Eintracht Frankfurt, Hamburger SV, Hannover 96, Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Borussia Mönchengladbach have all made one appearance.

2. Fortress VW-Arena

© gettyimages / Dennis Grombkowski

FC Bayern won the title last season with a ten-point advantage over Wolfsburg, but the Wolves were better on home turf. In front of their own fans, Wolfsburg were the only team not to lose a single match. Meanwhile, Bayern's fans had to witness two defeats. That's not a bad record for Wolfsburg to have, considering the Supercup takes place in their Volkswagen-Arena fortress.

3. Bogey side guests

Wolfsburg have lost by far their most Bundesliga matches against Bayern (27 defeats), conceding at the same time more goals (78) than against any other opponents. Their first defeat in the Bundesliga was also inflicted on them by the Bavarians (5-2 on Matchday 3 of the 1997/98 season). Furthermore,tThe Wolves have failed to score against Bayern in 36 of their meetings, which is another negative record for the Lower Saxony side, as is their ten defeats at home.

4. No half measures

When Bayern have lost in Wolfsburg – and that has only happened on three of their 18 visits – then it has always been dramatic. In the last 13 years, Bayern have only conceded five goals in a Bundesliga match on one occasion – in the 5-1 reverse in Wolfsburg in 2008/09. At the start of the second half of last season, Wolfsburg dealt Bayern a 4-1 defeat, putting as many goals past them in 90 minutes as the Bavarians had conceded over the course of their first 17 matches.

5. The specialists

Wolfsburg's André Schürrle has a particularly good record against Bayern. The winger won four of his seven games against Bayern with former clubs 1. FSV Mainz 05 and Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Team-mate Naldo has also finished up on the winning side four times against Bayern, but he needed 16 matches for that (two draws, ten defeats). As for Bayern, they have Thomas Müller , who has won nine out of 11 games against Wolfsburg (one draw, one defeat), scoring six goals in the process.

SALIHAMIDZIC: 'I'M GOING FOR 3-1 BAYERN'

Cologne - Hasan Salihamidzic played for both FC Bayern München and VfL Wolfsburg during a storied 17-year career in professional football, but where do his loyalities lie in this Saturday's Supercup?

In an exclusive interview with bundesliga.com, the retired Bosnia-Herzegovina international midfielder-turned-pundit weighs up both sides' prospects for the coming campaign, before giving us his big tip for the Bundesliga's traditional curtain-raiser at the Volkswagen Arena...

bundesliga.com: Hasan Salihamidzic, two of your former clubs - VfL Wolfsburg and FC Bayern München - go toe-to-toe on Saturday. How significant is the German Supercup?

Salihamidzic: The Supercup is an important title that you really want to have in your collection. It’s always nice to start the season with a win and some silverware.

bundesliga.com: It’s also a clash between last season’s best two teams in the Bundesliga. It goes without saying neither side will want to show any weaknesses.

Salihamidzic: I’d like to think so. It’s the first showdown of the season. Both teams want to start the campaign on a high note and with a win.

bundesliga.com: Do you think Wolfsburg’s 4-1 win over Bayern from last January comes into it?

Salihamidzic: One thing is clear: there’s no way Bayern will underestimate Wolfsburg. They didn’t do that in January, but now they’re even more aware of the quality Wolfsburg possess. Last season they were DFB Cup champions and won a trophy. It’s a prestigious match-up in which Bayern will definitely be out for revenge.

bundesliga.com: Compared to last season, Wolfsburg’s squad has got even better. There haven’t been any notable departures, while Max Kruse is a big-name newcomer. How highly do you rate VfL?

Salihamidzic: They've got a really good squad; last season proved that. Wolfsburg are the team that could be a real threat to Bayern. They’re also in really good shape financially. It’s going to be another top game.

bundesliga.com: Two members of the wolf pack were honoured last weekend. Kevin De Bruyne was voted Player of the Year and Dieter Hecking Coach of the Year. Will that spur the side on or is there a danger they’ll take a step back after successes like that?

Salihamidzic: I don’t think so. These awards are an added incentive, but they're playing Bayern. Wolfsburg have just started a successful chapter in their history. They’re all hungry. They’ve got a lot of young players in the squad and are in the process of building a top side. They’re a long way from being done yet. I’m curious to know where a player like Max Kruse fits in. Bayern have also brought in some quality players.

bundesliga.com: You said it. In a way, Arturo Vidal is one of your successors. A gifted midfielder, who sometimes sails a bit close to the wind, but is also a goalscoring threat. What do you make of the signing?

Salihamidzic: He’s a top signing for Bayern. He’s a world-class player who brings passion and commitment to the table. I really like that. He’ll give the team another lift and bring an extra bit of passion. He always plays to his limit and was a mainstay at Juventus.

bundesliga.com: Vidal’s come in, Bastian Schweinsteiger has moved on. How much does his departure hurt you?

Salihamidzic: ‘Schweini’ has always been a quality player. As a Bayern fan, I’m really sorry to see him go, but it was his wish. I also think it’s good when a player gains experience abroad. It’ll definitely do him good both as a player and a person and broaden his horizons. I know that from my own experience. I wish him the best of luck.

bundesliga.com: Bayern have also signed Douglas Costa and Joshua Kimmich. Are they once again the big favourites for the title in 2015/16?

Salihamidzic: No team has ever won four Bundesliga titles in a row, not even our team that were champions in 1999, 2000 and 2001 (laughs). That’s why it’s even more of an incentive for the team, who have already set so many records, to break this one. With their squad and options, Bayern are always the favourites for the title, but it’s hard to win it year after year. It’s a massive ask.

bundesliga.com: What’s your prediction for the Supercup?

Salihamidzic: In spite of everything else, I’d like to think that Bayern will win it, even though it’s in Wolfsburg. I’m going for a 3-1 Bayern win.