Still, I’m very happy about the last two years, it’s been great years to be a BVB- Supporter! Long may it continue.
Thanks also to all the readers and commentators on this blog!

Hugs and Heja BVB

Clarissa

PS: If anyone would like to continue with this blog, feel free to contact SNB.

Impressions…

After an exhausting 1-0 win against Bayern Munich, Dortmund went on and won the Derby against bitter Ruhr rivals Schalke by 2-1.

Highlights:

FC Schalke 04 1 – 2 Borussia Dortmund footyroom… von Futbol2101

With Bayern Munich only managing a draw against Augsburg, we only need two points from our last three games to seal the championship, something that should be emminently doable.

Next up, it’s Borussia Mönchengladbach for us. If we win this game, we’ll be champions.

Both teams started the first half very well, and the game was played at a pleasingly high tempo. Dortmund used their high pressing game to full effect, and Bayern actually found it difficult to retain posession, something that does not happen to them often. Our game- plan worked perfectly, Gomez and Müller were pretty much stranded up- field with no support. Roman Weidenfeller had a relaxed first half. On the other side of the field, but Neuer and the post came to Bayerns rescue. Both teams went into half- time at 0-0.

In the second half Bayern came out and attacked a lot more and also saw a lot more of the ball. However, Dortmund managed to score a goal, slightly against the run of play. Dortmund had a corner, and from the rebound Großkreutz lashed a shot at goal, which Lewandowski intercepted and put past neuer with a delightful cheeky little back- heel. Dortmund were a bit lucky that Robben had completely fallen asleep at the backpost, thus playing Lewandowksi on- side. Speaking of Robben, he took centre stage in the last fifteen, very hectical minutes of the match.

First Roman Weidenfeller brought Robben down in the penalty area and conceded a penalty. Robben stepped up himself, but his weak shot was saved by Weidenfeller! Subotic really got in his face after that, perhaps a bit of an unsavoury scene. Later, Robben had an open shot at goal, after Subotic headed the ball back on the bar of our own goal, but skyed it completely! Anyways, Dortmund now are six points clear of second place, and while there still are games against Schalke and Gladbach to come, collecting the second Bundesliga title in a row is a very real posibility now.

Two Dortmund players stood out particularly for me in this match: Robert Lewandowski and Mats Hummels. In this match, we saw the difference between Lewandowski and a striker like Mario Gomez. Dortmund was able to play high balls out of defense because Lewandowski was able to do a most excellent job bringing the ball down and holding it up. Apart from the goal he scored, he also had a ball hit the post! Overall, an excellent season for our Polish striker. Hummels on the other hand, was magnificient in defense, completely keeping Gomez quiet and opening the game up by clever passing.

Highlights:

That means that now we cannot allow ourselfs any slip- ups anymore, especially with the difficult games against Schalke and Munich still to come. However, first we have to go up against a resurgent Wolfsburg. The Wolves have been playing a strong second half of the season, and are now in contention for an Europaleague place. Particularly at home Wolfsburg have shown some very strong performances recently. Meanwhile our guys need to get the 4 goals conceded against Stuttgart out of their system.

Coming to the players, Dortmund will be able to use pretty much the full contingent. The interesting question is if Gündogan, who has finally been playing very well in the last few weeks, will start, or whether we’ll see Lars Bender.
Wolfsburg might be missing Patrick Helmes, who is currently on a goal- scoring streak. This could be an advantage for us, if he really has to miss the game. Coming to Götze, he is back in training, and will perhaps get a few minutes with the second team. Should be soon though, when he can return to the senior side.

Possible line- ups:

On last Sunday, this changed, thankfully. Dortmund ran out an impressive 6-1 win vs Cologne. We did not start the first half that well, conceding an early goal through a header by Cologne striker Novakovic. After that, the team slowly started to assert its dominace on the game though, and it seemed that it was only a matter of time. That promptly happened, and Dortmund went into half- time level with Cologne on 1-1.

In the second half Dortmund really shifted up a gear and tore Cologne apart, scoring five more goals. Shinji Kagawa and Ilkay Gündogan were the standout players.

And this Friday Dortmund played Stuttgart. It was one of the games of the season, ending 4-4. More to that game later.

Highlights:

Borussia Dortmund 4 – 4 Stuttgart von nike7sport

The match took place on Tuesday, and was a hard- fought affair. Dortmund managed a 120 minute winner, when a shot by Gündogan went off the post, of the back of the Fürth goalkeeper and in! Since Bayern won the second semi- final against Gladbach, we’ll be facing them in the final, which will take place in the Olympiastadion in Berlin. It should be a great occassion, and a good chance for Dortmund to do the double this season! Should add that the end was marred by Kevin Großkreutz going off at Gerald Asamoah and Mike Büskens, both of whom have Schalke connections. Großkreutz was later accused of having used racist language against Asamoah by another Fürth player, but since Asamoah himself has said that he wont make any comments, it looks like nothing will come off this. I just hope that Kevin gets his emotions better in check, it was a game after a second division club after all!

Highlights:

In other news, there are some big transfer stories going on, most notably surrounding Barrios. There is a story that he might go to China, though nothing has been confirmed yet. Still, it seems that whatever happens, Barrios is as good as gone. Also, there have been reports that Dortmund might be looking to add another Japanese player to their roster. Still only media reports though.

Next up in the Bundesliga we’ll go up against Cologne. Should be an interesting game!

Still, Werder Bremen have been inconsistent so far this season. They still are in the hunt for a Europaleague place, though, so we can’t underestimate them. Playing style wise, Werder Bremen should be more suited to Dortmund’s style of play than Augsburg, who really took man- marking to the extreme in their game against us. Bremen are well known for their attacking style of play, and do struggle in defense, which Dortmund should be able to exploit.

An aditional advantage for Dortmund is that Werder will be missing some crucial players, while we should be able to field our strongest XI. Pizarro will be definitely out because he is suspended, and he is hugely important for Werders goalscoring. Added to that they will likely miss Marin, Hunt and Arnautovic, which means that they’ll probably play youngster Füllkrug. Aditionally, their goalkeeper Tim Wiese injured himself in training on Friday, so he is out to. And midfielder Philip Bargfrede was injured too. I guess Werder will come with a severly injury- decimated squad to Dortmund, forcing them to play youngster and bench players. Generally Werder have parachuted quite a few young players up (Hartherz and Trybull), and that relative inexperience is something that Dortmund should look to exploit.

Still, Dortmund should be able to get three points from this fixture, despite Augsburg probably playing a very defensive game against us. Concerning squad news, Kehl will be back in midfield, so Gündogan will move back to the bench I pressume. Lucas Barrios is questionable, but he currently does not have a starting spot on the team, as hard as that must be for him. Also, in very good news, Götze has finally be able to resume some training, though Klopp has already said, that he wants to ease him back in very slowly, so we’ll probably not see him for a couple of games yet. Leitner is fit again too. A couple of players have caught a bit of a cold, but should be able to play on Saturday.

Possible line- ups (curtesy of the official BVB- website):

Highlights:

Ντόρτμουντ – Μάιντζ 2-1 von MotionCrew