Borussia Dortmund have started the new season under immediate pressure after losing the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup 1-2 to Bayern Munich at Signal Iduna Park on Saturday. Bayern's Nathaniel Brown and Michael Olise put the visitors two goals up before half-time, and although substitute Fabio Silva pulled one back, the equaliser never came. Maximilian Beier spurned a late chance, and Ramy Bensebaini was sent off in stoppage time after fouling Bayern newcomer Ismael Saibari.

The result exposed a defensive situation that was already fragile. Nico Schlotterbeck, the club's defensive leader, has been absent since suffering a ligament injury in Germany's World Cup group stage match against Ivory Coast in June. He played on until half-time despite the damage, and that decision appears to have complicated his recovery. Sporting director Ole Book has declined to give a return date, and reports from the Ruhr Nachrichten suggest Schlotterbeck will not be available until after the international break in early October, ruling him out of the Bundesliga opener and the first Champions League fixture. Bensebaini's red card and a suspected rib injury sustained during the Supercup add further strain to an already stretched backline.

Attacking questions surfaced too. Serhou Guirassy was substituted after 62 minutes having barely touched the ball, drawing public criticism from pundit Stefan Effenberg. Silva's composed finish off the bench will complicate squad planning ahead of the September 1 transfer deadline, with several clubs reportedly interested in the Portuguese striker. On the positive side, Greek winger Giannis Konstantelias impressed after coming on, setting up the goal with a precise pass. Dortmund now turn their attention to the Bundesliga opener against Hamburger SV on August 29.