BERLIN // Borussia Dortmund ensured former star striker Robert Lewandowski’s return to the Ruhr ended in disappointment on Wednesday as they beat an under-strength Bayern Munich 2-0 to win the German SuperCup for the second successive year.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Gabonese international striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored Dortmund’s goals while the match proved costly for Bayern as Spanish international midfielder Javi Martinez appeared to suffer a serious right knee injury.
For Dortmund and coach Jurgen Klopp it provided a measure of consolation for having lost to Bayern in the Cup final last season as well as finishing distant runners-up in the league.
And while it leaves Bayern coach Pep Guardiola seeking his first win in the match in two attempts, the former Barcelona handler was without several of his established stars.
German World Cup winning midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger and wingers Arjen Robben of the Netherlands and Frenchman Franck Ribery were among those missing.
Ribery, though, still managed to grab the headlines as he announced in an interview with Kicker magazine that he had decided to retire from international football.
Javi Martinez suffers serious injury in SuperCup
Bayern Munich’s Spanish international Javi Martinez looks set for a long spell on the sidelines after suffering a serious knee injury during Wednesday’s German SuperCup with Borussia Dortmund.
The 25-year-old defensive midfielder, who moved to Bayern in 2012 for 40 million euros ($53 million) after impressing at Athletic Bilbao, required lengthy medical treatment after landing awkwardly following a tackle by Dortmund defender Marcel Schmelzer on the half-hour mark.
He was replaced by Brazilian defender Dante.
According to German media reports the injury is to his cruciate ligaments and Bayern Munich’s sporting director Matthias Sammer admitted to German broadcaster ZDF it didn’t look good.
Dortmund went on to win the SuperCup for the second successive year, beating Bayern 2-0.
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