Vincent Kompany gambles on Nathaniel Brown as Bayern face Dortmund for Super Cup

Bayern Munich have named Nathaniel Brown in an unfamiliar attacking role for Saturday’s German Super Cup meeting with Borussia Dortmund, while Algeria international Ramy Bensebaini starts for the hosts at Signal Iduna Park.

Bayern manager Vincent Kompany has left new Morocco international Ismael Saibari on the substitutes’ bench and selected Brown instead. The decision comes as Bayern cope with the absence of Germany forward Jamal Musiala, who has recently been affected by health problems.

Brown is normally used as a left-back, but Kompany has moved him into an advanced position behind striker Harry Kane. The selection represents a surprise change of role for the newly arrived German, who will be expected to contribute further forward against Dortmund.

Bayern’s starting XI is completed by captain and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, with Kim Min-jae, Jonathan Tah and Josip Stanisic forming the rest of the defensive line alongside Brown.

Joshua Kimmich, Konrad Laimer and Aleksandar Pavlovic make up the midfield, while Michael Olise and Luis Diaz join Kane in the front three.

Bayern Munich’s team is:

Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer.

Defenders: Kim Min-jae, Jonathan Tah, Josip Stanisic, Nathaniel Brown.

Midfielders: Joshua Kimmich, Konrad Laimer, Aleksandar Pavlovic.

Forwards: Michael Olise, Luis Diaz, Harry Kane.

Substitutes: Jonas Urbig, Dayot Upamecano, Tom Bischof, Alphonso Davies, Hiroki Ito, Arijon Ibrahimovic, Ismael Saibari, Bara, Cardoso.

Dortmund have also confirmed their line-up for the match at their home ground, with Bensebaini included from the start. The former Borussia Monchengladbach defender will play alongside new French defender Joan Gado and Germany international Waldemar Anton in the Dortmund defence.

Gregor Kobel is in goal for Borussia Dortmund. Julian Ryerson, Jobe Bellingham, Felix Nmecha and Daniel Svensson are named in midfield, while Konstantinos Karetsas, Samuele Inacio and Serhou Guirassy lead the attack.

Borussia Dortmund’s team is:

Goalkeeper: Gregor Kobel.

Defenders: Joan Gado, Waldemar Anton, Ramy Bensebaini.

Midfielders: Julian Ryerson, Jobe Bellingham, Felix Nmecha, Daniel Svensson.

Forwards: Konstantinos Karetsas, Samuele Inacio, Serhou Guirassy.

Dortmund published the announcement as their “Our fist official line-up of the season! Let’s bring this trophy home 👊” on social media ahead of the fixture.

The German Super Cup brings together Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park, the home of the “Yellow and Black” side. Saturday’s match will be the first opportunity for both teams to claim silverware in the new season, with the confirmed selections offering an early indication of how the two managers intend to shape their sides.

For Bayern, much of the attention will centre on Brown’s deployment behind Kane and Saibari’s decision to begin on the bench. Dortmund, meanwhile, will look to Bensebaini and their reshaped defensive unit to contain a Bayern attack featuring Kane, Diaz and Olise.