Vacationing at home in Belgrade, Neven added his commitment to die Schwarzgelben, citing his excitement of the clubs future and that he is “feeling good being there (BVB)”. While the option of moving abroad looms in the future, he acknowledges it is likely too soon.

“I am under contract at Borussia Dortmund and I am feeling well being there,” said Subotic.

The hosts strategy was clear, to nullify BVB’s attack first and go forward with safer countering measures. With veteran Tomáš Galásek controlling the defensive line they bent to BVB’s pressure but could only be broken once. Die Schwarzgelben had a number early chances to score, most falling to Nelson Valdez but each was off course. Opportunities slowed to a more cautious tone in the later stages of the opening half with the exception of Dante registering Gladbach’s lone chance as he headed soon-to-be Bayern man Alexander Baumjohann’s corner off the post. The hosts grabbed a shock lead three minutes before the hour as Dortmund, playing a man down temporarily as Felipe Santana was receiving medical treatment, allowed Dante to crash into the box and headed-in Baumjohann’s corner. BVB pressed to level and did so four minutes after the hour as Sebastian Kehl sent a long ball that got past Paul Stalteri to Jakub Błaszczykowski with Kuba executing the final touch to perfection near the spot. With nineteen minutes left the Polish international was substituted for Mohamed Zidan but that seemed to have a detrimental impact on BVB’s flanking assaults. Despite the continued efforts the match ended even and the Dortmunders Europa League dream ended.

Although the disappointment of not earning a spot in European football “stings”, this was a incredible start to the centennial celebration. Die Schwarzgelben waved with pride in the Rückrunde, the fourth best result in the Bundesliga and one that provides great promise for the future.

Die Schwarzgelben visit Gladbach tomorrow in a death battle to the finish. For the home-side it could mean survival and BVB is fighting for the improbably charge that has lead them to foot of European football. Push beyond the tactics, forget the place in the table, this will be the ultimate of matches with everything on the line.

Tensions will run high and given Gladbach’s style of man marking and with tenacious veteran players such as Tomáš Galásek, this is likely to be very tight, physical match. Injuries shouldn’t be a problem as Alexander Frei and Tamás Hajnal are expected to be able to go after modest concerns last week.

One match Dortmunders and Europe is ours!

Without a change to Jürgen Klopp’s starting eleven from recnet weeks the visiting Bielefeld imposed a difficult defensive approach early. However two minutes prior to the half Alexander Frei sent a free kick from the left into the box that the captain, Sebastian Kehl, rose high to out-duel Bielefeld ‘keeper Dennis Eilhoff and headed the ball in. After the break, possibly because news had leaked around Westfalenstadion of Köln’s upset brewing, BVB came out and took advantage of the visitors being forced to open up their play. Eight minutes after the re-start the score was doubled as Polish international Jakub Błaszczykowski came down the right wing before sending to Nelson Valdez near the byline, whose cross to Frei in-close came out to Tamás Hajnal to finish from six metres out. The third goal came with twenty-one minutes left as Kuba chased down a long through ball down the right flank and outracing the defender sent a perfect cross that Valdez redirected into the back of the net via a sliding touch. After the goal Jürgen Klopp allowed Valdez to leave the match to the cheers of 80,000 plus and only three minutes later his replacement, Mohamed Zidan, created the fourth goal. To the left of the box near the byline the Egyptian international sent a perfect low pass near the spot that Tamás Hajnal allowed to go through to Kehl to drive in. Up 4-0, the celebration continued with regular updates of Köln’s success still being the hot topic but with six minutes later it was 5-0 as Dedê’s cross from the left was headed in by Tinga from the top of the six yard box. Finally Mohamed Zidan puncuateted the celebration as he made it 6-0 with a drive from just inside the box three minutes from time.

Jürgen Klopp confidently sent his side forward from the opening whistle and without a doubt the home side was on their heels forced to defend. Jakub Błaszczykowski’s flanking runs were filleting Wolfsburg’s defenders and early on the Polish international provided Alexander Frei a high quality chance but he could not get his shot off. Exposing Wolfsburg’s flanking weakness, at the eleventh minute Patrick Owomoyela sped down the right linking with Tamás Hajnal to supply Frei another chance but his set-up was off and he sent his shot high. In their first real scoring chance Grafite and Josué worked a one-two with Edin Džeko being supplied and finishing from just beyond ten metres. BVB was not deterred by the goal and returned to controlling the run of play, threatening again but as is so often the case for visitors to Volkswagen Arena calls didn’t go their way. Another quality chance for BVB to break onto the score sheet was denied when Alexander Madlung dragged Felipe Santana off the ball but the call did not come. However referee decisions aside BVB was unable to break down Wolfsburg with the final touch and two minutes into the new half the Bosnian Džeko passed Grafite the ball from the left and he quickly drove the ball in. Down 2-0 the matches pace slowed and Jürgen Klopp pulled Tamás Hajnal, Nelson Valdez and Jakub Blaszczykowski to ensure their availability for the remaining matches. With fifteen minutes remaining Kevin-Prince Boateng received a straight red-card in another peculiar call as he was adjudged to throwing a elbox, although it seemed anything but intentional. With five minutes left Wolfsburg made it 3-0 as Grafite’s pass for the left careened off Felipe Santana foot to Edin Džeko, with the Bosnian adding his second of the day.

Jürgen Klopp used the same starting eleven as last weeks win Frankfurt and immediately asserted their attacking prowess. Prospective efforts by Nelson Valdez and Tamás Hajnal came close but at the twenty-fifth Jakub Błaszczykowski nailed the ball into the net after Alexander Frei played him through with a good touch. The Dortmunders continued to pressure but slowly Ede Becker’s countering measures presented KSC scoring chances. However two minutes past the hour Nuri Şahin struck a incredible dipping free-kick from twenty-three metres into the back of the net to double the advantage. With the match no longer in question, Felipe Santana redirected Şahin’s corner in with nineteen minutes left to make it 3-0. Not done for the day Alexander Frei accepted a long pass from Kevin-Prince Boateng before pounding the ball past KSC ‘keeper Markus Miller.

Die Schwarzgelben face a difficult day against Ede Becker’s side as they are known for tough physical play and not afraid of grinding out a draw. Speaking respectfully of his former team, “his KSC”, Tamás Hajnal said, “I promise to all Karlsruher that we will do everything to beat them as well. And who knows, maybe KSC avoid the drop after all.”

Jürgen Klopp should have few changes to his lineup but expressed caution with the opposition:

“KSC have, for a team on this position, very few weaknesses. That´s unusual. It´s not going to be an easy game. We treat it with a lot of respect. We have to take advantage of our own strengths.”

In front of a sold-out Waldstadion, the match started with few significant scoring chances as both sides screwed down defensive liabilities tight. As is the customary practice of BVB coach, a successful lineup is never tinkered with and he kept with the same starting eleven of recent play. The match certainly had all the makings of a draw as for much of the first hour the general play was testament to perfect planning and error free structure. Slowly BVB began to find modest openings and with eleven minutes remaining Patrick Owomoyela came down the right side of the box and centred the ball back to Tamás Hajnal. After the Hungarian international’s attempt was blocked by Marco Russ, Mohamed Zidan sent in the rebound from twelve metres. Only five minutes later the match was settled as Tamás Hajnal chased down a long-through ball and sent a low cross in from the bye-line that was inadvertently redirected in by Habib Bellaid as a own goal to give BVB the 2-0 win.

Jürgen Klopp is not predicting anything other than a continuation of hard working “honest” Football. Patrick Owomoyela said of the BVB’s effort:

“It´s so much fun and we enjoy it. And we don´t have to pinch ourselves to make sure it´s real, because we know how hard we worked for these wins.”

The next step in BVB’s advances is Frankfurt on Saturday which naturally will be a smoldering cauldron. Pushing their injury problems aside they can come up with big performances and their “twelfth-man” will not be quieted. Roughly 10,000 Dortmunders are making the short trip in support and will be needed in what is likely to be the weekends most “vocal” match.