Bayern Munich beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup, and the stands offered their own story: Jürgen Klopp's first appearance since taking charge of the German national team.
All eyes were on Klopp throughout the match. He had already started watching the German national team players up close, in his first outing inside a stadium as the new head coach of Die Mannschaft.
Before kick-off, Klopp shared a meal with several prominent figures in German football. Among them were German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Bayern Munich CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen, along with Lars Ricken and Carsten Cramer from Borussia Dortmund.
Klopp then headed to the guests' box and sat beside Merz. Also there were Hans-Joachim Watzke, his friend and close advisor and the former president of Borussia Dortmund, and Rudi Völler, the sporting director of the German Football Association, while association president Bernd Neuendorf sat nearby.
Half-time brought an unusual scene. Klopp and Merz stayed in their seats while most of the guests left the box for the interior areas, according to the German newspaper "Bild".
The Chancellor's tight security explained it. Merz travelled with a number of security personnel, and moving to another area inside the stadium during an interval of no more than 15 minutes would have meant securing additional routes and facilities, so he chose to stay put.
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Klopp made the most of remaining in the stands, surrounded by supporters who got a rare chance to get near him. Fans flocked in large numbers to take photos and grab his autograph, and the German coach responded with patience and warmth.
Signing fans' belongings wasn't enough. Klopp also put his name to a Bayern Munich shirt as the crowd wanting photos kept swelling, prompting organisers to call in extra security to manage the situation.
The conversation between Klopp and Merz ebbed and flowed through the match. One moment stood out above the rest. Klopp took out his phone and showed the Chancellor something on the screen, and Merz's face shifted into clear astonishment.
Nobody revealed what Klopp showed on his phone. But Merz's reaction was striking enough to catch the eye, one of the most interesting images from the German coach's first appearance in the stands.
Technically, the match mattered to Klopp too. It gave him the chance to run the rule over several German players who may figure in his plans over the coming period, as the national team prepares to begin its UEFA Nations League campaign.
Throughout his time at the stadium, Klopp followed the game with clear focus, despite the social atmosphere and the public interest swirling around him. He also met a number of faces he knows well from his previous spell with Borussia Dortmund, swapping conversations and smiles with some of his old friends.
This appearance at the Supercup marks the start of a new chapter in Klopp's career. He has taken charge of the German national team as successor to the previous staff, amid great hopes of returning Die Mannschaft to competition for the major titles. German fans now wait on his first decisions, especially over player selections and the style of play he will build his side around.
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