Dortmund finds themselves trailing leaders Leverkusen by 17 points, a stark contrast to the previous season when they were on the brink of breaking Bayern’s decade-long dominance in the German top flight. Last season, Dortmund led by two points heading into the final day, but a 2-2 draw at home to Mainz allowed Bayern to snatch an 11th successive Bundesliga title on goal difference.
Dortmund
The sense of missed opportunities has lingered throughout the current season, exacerbated by Leverkusen’s impressive form, as they sit eight points clear at the top. Dortmund, once hopeful of building on last season’s near miss, now find themselves relying on the Champions League to salvage this campaign.
While the aftermath of losing the title hasn’t been severe, with an unbeaten league run for the first three months, Dortmund stumbled against Bayern, triggering a run of one win in seven league games leading into the winter break. A 4-0 home defeat in November, with Harry Kane scoring a hat-trick, set the tone for a challenging period.
Despite an unbeaten run in eight league games, Dortmund remains 15 points off the pace after a 1-1 draw with Mainz over Christmas. Closing such a gap appears challenging, and questions loom, particularly in recruitment. The departure of Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid has left a void, and Dortmund has struggled to adequately replace him.
Felix Nmecha, brought in for £25m, has scored just once in 15 games and faced criticism for perceived inappropriate behavior on social media. Marcel Sabitzer, another signing with Bellingham funds, has been moderately successful but falls short of Bellingham’s impact. Jadon Sancho’s loan return from Manchester United has yet to recapture his previous form.
Terzic’s attempts to replace Bellingham’s dual role with two players have been only partially effective, evident in tactical experimentation with various formations. The post-Christmas period has seen improvement, but Dortmund still falls short of last season’s heights, with defensive contributions and saves from goalkeeper Gregor Kobel proving crucial.
While the Bundesliga campaign disappoints, Dortmund’s Champions League performance offers hope, having navigated a challenging group and securing a favorable draw against PSV Eindhoven in the last-16. As they face adversity in the league, the Champions League remains a potential avenue to salvage their season.
