Bayern Munich lifts German Super Cup
Dortmund, Germany - Bayern Munich lifted the German Super Cup on Saturday with a 5-4 win in a penalty shootout at Borussia Dortmund after Marc Bartra had his crucial final spot-kick saved.
The game finished 2-2 over 90 minutes as Christian Pulisic's early goal for Dortmund was cancelled out by Robert Lewandowski.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, last season's top-scorer in the German League, restored Dortmund's lead with 19 minutes left before Lukasz Piszczek's late own goal took the match straight to penalties.
"We haven't had much time to get ready, but now we had a little more time to train and I'm very happy that we won the first title," said Lewandowski, who drilled home Bayern's first penalty in the shootout.
Ex-Barcelona defender Bartra, the only player badly injured in April's bomb attack on the Dortmund team bus, saw the 12th spot-kick saved to hand Bayern the cup for the second year running.
Aubameyang, the subject of a big-money offer from China, and Ousmane Dembele, who Barcelona have reportedly tabled a US$82.4mn offer for as Neymar's replacement, both impressed for Dortmund.
The win gives Bayern its first title of the season as the defend- ing champion open the new German League season on Friday at home to Bayer Leverkusen.
The victory offers head coach Carlo Ancelotti a welcome boost after his team lost five of its six previous warm-up games.
"We know the pre-season hasn't gone the way it should," said Bayern's goalkeeper Sven Ulreich, who saved Bartra's kick.
"Today we saw the real FC Bayern again and we proved we had the morale to come back."
Both Bayern's Kimmich and Dortmund's Sebastian Rode had their penalties saved in the shootout until Bartra's shot was blocked by Ulreich to send the trophy to Munich.