Two weeks before the Bundesliga starts, the German season will kick off on Sunday, 12 August, with a DFL-Super Cup match in Frankfurt between the champions Bayern Munich and the national cup winners Eintracht Frankfurt.

Bayern Munich

The powerhouse from Munich have won the Super Cup six times, including the two most recent editions. In 2016 and 2017, Bayern beat their eternal rivals Borussia Dortmund - 2:0 in 2016, and 2:2, 5:4 on penalties one year later.

Bayern, who have won every Bundesliga season since 2013, are determined to add some more trophies to their collection this season. The match against Eintracht will be special for their head coach Niko Kovac, who was in charge of the Franfkurt side last season.

For Kovac, it will be the first competitive game at the helm of the German heavyweights. Bayern's newcomers Leon Goretzka and Serge Gnabry (he signed with Bayern last year, but spent the past season on loan at Hoffenheim) also have a chance to make their official debut. At the same time, the newly crowned world champion Corentin Tolisso is still on vacations after the triumph in Russia. 

Obviously Bayern will be the favourites in the game - as they almost always are while playing against a domestic rival. 

Eintracht Frankfurt

But the Frankfurt team also have their trump cards. After all, they play in their arena and rely on home support. Besides, their most recent match against Bayern ended positively for Eintracht, who sensationally beat the Munich side in the German Cup final in May (3-1). It was actually Frankfurt's first trophy since 1988!

Ante Rebic, who then scored a brace, later went on to win a silver medal of the World Cup. Despite rumours of him leaving the club, he has signed a new contract with Frankfurt until 2022. 

Eintracht's squad has gone through some summer changes, and new signings like Felix Wiedwald, Goncalo Paciencia, Nicolai Müller and Chico Geraldes will have a chance to make their debut on Sunday.

And the hear coach is now Adi Hütter, the 47-year-old Austrian who was in charge of Switzerland's Young Boys last season and actually has never worked in Germany before. 

Stats

It will be the 100th competitive match between Bayern and Eintracht in the German competitions (the Bundesliga and the German Cup). Bayern have a big advantage as theywon 53 games, with Eintracht celebrating victories 23 times and 23 draws. 

Bayern Munich vs. Eintracht Frankfurt
Sunday 12 August, 20:30 local time, Frankfurt-am-Mein

Probable line-ups:

Bayern: Neuer - Kimmich, Süle, Hummels, Alaba - Javi Martinez, Thiago Alcantara - Robben, T. Müller, F. Ribery - Lewandowski.

Eintracht: Wiedwald - Abraham, Hasebe, Salcedo - Da Costa, Torro, De Guzman, Willems - Rebic, Gacinovic - Haller.