A short history of Bayern versus Dortmund

Wednesday evening's Supercup is hardly the most important title in German football, but it still marks the start of the new season. And this year, once again, the campaign begins with a meeting of Germany's biggest and best: Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. It's a matchup with a long and rich history.

One of the first matches between the two teams in the Bundesliga ended with a clear victory for Dortmund, way back in 1967. The men in yellow and black won 4-0 on the last day of the season in the uniquely named Stadion Rote Erde (Red Earth Stadium), in Dortmund.

By the early 1970's, Bayern seized the upper hand. Revered goal machine Gerd Müller (second from left) scored four goals against Dortmund in a Bundesliga match back in 1971. In the end, his team won 11-1. That remains Bayern's biggest Bundesliga winning margin and, at the same time, one of BVB's darkest moments.

Dortmund's Andreas Möller was a controversial character on the pitch: sometimes brilliant with the ball at his feet, sometimes crude in his attempted dives. Back in 1997, Bayern's Lothar Matthäus lost his calm amid Möller antics, angrily calling him a "crybaby" on the pitch. The insult got under Möller's skin too; he put his hand in his national teammate's face in response. The match ended 1-1.

Oliver Kahn was running on adrenalin back in 1999 when he tried to clear a path in front of Dortmund player Stephane Chapuisat. Despite his flying kung fu kick, the Bayern goalie just missed the Swiss striker. Still, it's one of the most famous sporting photos of Kahn.

... is probably not how you would describe these two. Dortmund's striker Heiko Herrlich (left) doesn't seem too pleased with the attention he's getting from - you've guessed it - Bayern goalkeeper Oliver Kahn. All Kahn wanted to do was tell Herrlich to leave the penalty area, but he was never one for half measures.

This was a game that got everyone talking. In April 2001 Dortmund and Bayern played what was meant to be a football game but degenerated into a foul-fest. Three people were sent off and 13 yellow cards were handed out. Referee Hartmut Strampe was among the busiest men on the pitch as the rivals fought to a draw.

The current rivalry between the two teams is nothing new. Back in 2002, Bayern's Giovane Elber clashed with Dortmund's goalkeeper at the time, Jens Lehmann. This angry exchange occured after Lehmann pushed Elber to the floor.

In 2012 Dortmund managed perhaps their most symbolically significant win against their Bavarian rivals. In Berlin they triumphed 5-2 - just weeks after succesfully defending the Bundesliga title, too. Many people spoke of a changing of the guard in German football. If anything, the defeat merely galvanized Bayern, who went on the offensive on the transfer market, also buying up Dortmund's talent.

On their way to a stellar year in 2013, Bayern had a crucial quarter-final win against Dortmund in the German Cup. The difference that night was Arjen Robben. The Dutchman scored the only goal of the game, a screamer from distance.

The Bundesliga title soon followed for Bayern, then came perhaps the most important game between the two sides: the 2013 Champions League at Wembley. There, Bayern won 2-1 after a goal from who else but, Arjen Robben. It's fair to say it was the biggest win in the recent history of Germany's most successful club.

Last season Bayern dominated the Bundesliga. But, against Dortmund they didn't have a clear advantage. In the first half of the season, the Munich side won 3-nil in Dortmund. In the return match, Dortmund upset the Bayern side also winning 3-nil. The result in the 2014 Supercup - a game where teams often struggle to deliver their best in the early-season doldrums - could go either way.