Early honours for Bayern and Lyon

FC Bayern München, Olympique Lyonnais and RSC Anderlecht each received a confidence boost ahead of the new campaign on Saturday as they lifted the first silverware of the season in their respective homelands.

Klose winner
New recruit Miroslav Klose was Bayern's hero as the UEFA Cup contenders defeated FC Schalke 04 in front of a sell-out crowd in Leipzig to win the League Cup, the traditional precursor to the Bundesliga season. Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld was missing a number of star names, including summer signings Franck Ribéry and Luca Toni, yet saw Klose register the only goal on 29 minutes as the Germany forward capitalised on a defensive error to roll the ball into the empty net. Hamit Altıntop and Mladen Krstajić both went close for Schalke, but Bayern were not to be denied.

Big-name debutants
In France, perennial Ligue 1 winners Lyon made it six wins out of six in the Trophée des champions, but had to come from behind against FC Sochaux-Montbéliard after Valter Birsa fired the French Cup winners in front on 14 minutes when converting a fine cross from Badara Sène. Sidney Govou levelled seven minutes later and new captain Cris volleyed in what turned out to be the winning goal just before half-time. Italy defender Fabio Grosso and former LOSC Lille Métropole duo Kader Keita and Mathieu Bodmer all made their debuts for Lyon, who look well placed for further glory this term.

Flying start
The Belgian Super Cup also went the way of the league champions, as RSC Anderlecht defeated Club Brugge KV 3-1 to win the trophy for the eighth time. Les Mauves made a flying start on home soil and took the lead after just four minutes as Mbark Boussoufa fizzed a free-kick beyond goalkeeper Stijn Stijnen. Mbo Mpenza doubled the advantage in the 39th minute with a header from a Boussoufa cross, although Brugge were back in it by the 49th minute as summer signing from Serbia, Dušan Djokić, headed in a corner. The final goal went the way of Anderlecht, though, as Ahmed Hassan combined with Boussoufa to put the match beyond doubt as full time approached. The capital club will compete in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round.