Dortmund keeper Gregor Kobel relishes another Manuel Neuer showdown in Supercup

Dortmund will host the Bundesliga champions at the Westfalenstadion, with the match providing an early test before the new Bundesliga season begins.

Kobel knows the Supercup carries importance despite coming before the league campaign.

"Of course, it's a cup, and it's an important game. I think everybody sees it the same way," the Dortmund goalkeeper said in his Bundesliga interview.

"Every time you play against FC Bayern Munchen, it's going to be a great game for us, and we know we have to give 110%."

The match could also be one of Neuer's final Supercup appearances, with the Bayern goalkeeper having indicated that the coming season could be his last.

However, Kobel is not convinced the 40-year-old is ready to step away from the game just yet.

"This guy is very, very hungry to show his strength. After so many years, the level he's performing at is very impressive," Kobel said.

The Swiss goalkeeper has plenty of respect for Neuer and welcomes the chance to compete against one of the greatest goalkeepers of his generation.

"You always want to compete against the best, so I'm always very excited when I can play against him," he said.

Kobel made his only previous Supercup appearance against Bayern at the start of the 2021-22 season, when Bayern won 3-1.

He is still waiting for his first victory over Bayern since joining Dortmund, having missed their only win at the Allianz Arena in 2024 through injury.

Neuer is 12 years older than Kobel, but the Dortmund goalkeeper believes longevity at the highest level depends on much more than age.

"It's very impressive what he's done. To be able to play at this level for that long is incredible," Kobel said.

"I think you have to have the desire and hunger to be successful within yourself. But also your body, your mind, everything has to come together."

Kobel believes he will have a better idea about his own future later in his career.

"I think this is something you'll see in the next seven or eight years for me. Then I'll see what kind of mental state I'm in," he said.

The Dortmund goalkeeper revealed that Neuer was not among his main goalkeeping idols when he was growing up. Petr Cech and Iker Casillas were among the names he looked up to, while Oliver Kahn and Jens Lehmann stood out among German goalkeepers.

Despite that, Kobel has huge admiration for what Neuer has achieved.

"Obviously, with Neuer's body of work, especially from the 2010s onwards, it was incredible what he did," he said.

"It's always nice to see how he plays the game, how he reads the game and what he does."

Now Kobel will have the chance to challenge Neuer once again, while Dortmund look to prevent Bayern from claiming their 13th Supercup title.