Consistent reports have indicated that Borussia Dortmund are considering offloading Julian Brandt this summer
ahead of Dortmund’s 4-0 win over Wolfsburg on Saturday
sporting director Sebastian Kehl played down the speculation
saying the 29-year-old is likely to remain at the club next season
“The likelihood is high - he has a contract
But we’re not that far along yet; we haven’t talked about it,” Kehl told Sky Germany when asked about Brandt’s future
Brandt has recently reminded Dortmund of his value
scoring in last week’s 3-2 win over Hoffenheim and registering two assists in the dominant victory against Wolfsburg
The attacking midfielder joined Dortmund from Bayer Leverkusen in 2019 for a fee of €25 million
yDoppelpack Noun [German] - A brace scored by the same player in one match
Doppeldoppelpack Noun [Gibberish] - A brace of braces scored by two players in one match
we witnessed a doppeldoppelpack as Serhou Guirassy and substitute Kareem Adeyemi propelled Dortmund to a 4-0 home win over Wolfsburg
Guirassy opened the scoring within three minutes of the opening whistle
as a bobbling ball found his feet on the edge of the penalty area and he slotted it home after a dummy shot
it was far from a vintage attacking display for the hosts
as Dortmund trotted into halftime with one goal and no other shots on target
imitating a 2015 Volkswagen in an emissions test
were not up for the task in the second half as Dortmund added three more goals
Pascal Gross found Serhou Guirassy standing alone on the penalty spot in the 59th minute to double Dortmund’s lead
Kareem Adeyemi completed the doppeldoppelpack off the bench as he scored two extremely well-taken goals in the span of ten minutes
His first goal in the 69th (nice) minute saw the young German cut through Wolfsburg’s defense with a well-taken nutmeg and finish the chance as Wolfsburg’s keeper dove the wrong way
His second was equally flashily as he cut around three Wolfsburg defenders and found the far post to put the match beyond doubt
both goals made me stand up and clap like a psychopath as I watched this match alone in my apartment
The big takeaway from this match is that Dortmund now find themselves back in the top four
A Freiburg loss against Bayer Leverkusen tomorrow can put Dortmund’s future in their own hands
Kovac’s side have picked up sixteen out of eighteen possible points in the last six matchdays - more than any other Bundesliga team in that stretch
If Dortmund win their remaining games against Bayer Leverkusen and Holstein Kiel
Here are the highlights from yesterday’s match:
Reports after Dortmund’s Champions League tie against Barcelona indicated that Julian Brandt would be on his way out this summer
and Carney Chukwuemeka ousted him from the starting eleven
Julian Brandt has shifted that narrative in the past two games
He scored a fantastic volley against Hoffenheim and notched two more assists yesterday while wearing the captain’s armband
It’s difficult to say if Brandt is fighting to keep his place in Dortmund or if he is putting himself in the shop window
we could be witnessing the famous last stand of Julian Brandt
is often a pipeline of steaming back takes
Especially myself (I championed Mahmoud Dahoud as the Bundesliga’s best midfielder for three years)
that we perform some public shaming today:
I would love to sell Guirassy in the summer
Maybe a Summer sale would not be farfetched for G9
Maybe we find Guirassy a new club in the summer
These quotes are all about three weeks old and were written after Barcelona demolished Dortmund in the first leg of their Champions League tie
His movement off the ball is just fantastic, and he proved that again yesterday with his two goals against Wolfsburg. If the team creates chances around him, Guirassy will finish them and will win games for Borussia Dortmund
Maybe let’s back our elite number nine and not try to push him out this summer
it is only fair that I highlight my garbage take from that match:
I was trying to insinuate that Guirassy is much worse than Lewandowski
but let’s be clear: he’s better than Robert Lewandowski
With the Wolves in a lethargic form and winless since March 1st
Dortmund did not need to do much to come out of this match with the three points
After Guirassy scored the first goal only a few minutes in
Borussia Dortmund struggled a little in the first half
forcing the game through the flanks when there was space in the middle
and BVB opened Pandora's Box for the Wolves
With Serhou scoring his second early into the half
which allowed the star substitute Karim Adeyemi to score two bangers that sealed the match for the Yellow Wall
BVB kept their European and even Champions League aspirations more alive than ever
Here are three takeaways from Dortmund's massive 4-nil win over Wolfsburg:
32 and counting...Yeah, I guess he was worth the pricetag 🤷♂️ https://t.co/Wg6l36Ogx7
Serhou Guirassy scored 32 goals in the 2024/2025 season for Borussia Dortmund until this moment in time; numbers that truly speak for themselves
Guirassy proves game in and out that he can deliver the goals Borussia Dortmund needs to reach glory
and his issue with holding the ball for too long
BVB fans know that if he is in front of the opponent's goal
Guirassy is one of the most lethal strikers in Europe
I didn't even notice Karim coming in lolLets gooooooo pic.twitter.com/KRikhKdNvZ
Karim Adeyemi had an immediate impact once coming in the second half
I commented briefly on the need for Adeyemi to come in
With fewer spaces for Jamie Gittens to break into Wolfsburg's defense
the game called for someone fast and effective in central areas
Feel like we need Adeyemi for this one...This match does not favor Gittens with space at all
while Karim is way deadlier in central areas..
I feel the urge to say 'I told you so.' Karim Adeyemi also scored two golaços
and what seemed to be an easy game already became a walk in the park for Borussia Dortmund
as much as Gittens has improved a lot this season and his playing time could be related to boosting his pricetag for the summer
Adeyemi cannot be benched in the past two matches
Karim "The Dream" Adeyemi is simply the perfect scheme fit for the team right now
Pascal Groß Signature 🪄 pic.twitter.com/0S7zkwWTe6
Pascal Groß has been a key piece for Borussia Dortmund in this run of good matches
the German international seems to have finally flourished in Black and Yellow
becoming a central component of the midfield
With a beautiful assist to Guirassy's second score of the day
taking three Wolfsburg defenders out of their senses and making life way too simple for the Guinean striker
His experience and consistency in possession are a great combination that adds an extra layer of danger to Dortmund's attack dynamics
I am glad that Groß is at last finding a reason to smile at Signal Iduna Park
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32 and counting...Yeah, I guess he was worth the pricetag 🤷♂️ https://t.co/Wg6l36Ogx7
I didn't even notice Karim coming in lolLets gooooooo pic.twitter.com/KRikhKdNvZ
Pascal Groß Signature 🪄 pic.twitter.com/0S7zkwWTe6
The Black and Yellows won their fourth game in a row
and a key one for BVB's European aspirations
Guirassy continued his impressive goal scoring form todayLARS BARON / GETTY IMAGES EUROPE / Getty Images via AFPBraces from Serhou Guirassy and Karim Adeyemi helped Niko Kovac’s Borussia Dortmund to a clinical 4-0 victory against his former club VfL Wolfsburg, extending BVB’s unbeaten Bundesliga run to six games (W5, D1) as they climbed to fourth in the table.A late-season resurgence has seen Dortmund climb into European contention
starting the contest in sixth with hopes of UEFA Champions League (UCL) qualification a genuine possibility
With momentum on their side, it took the hosts just three minutes to break the deadlock, netting through Guirassy, who collected the ball in the box and kept his composure to wrongfoot Kamil Grabara with a precise finish
Soon after, an offside in the build-up meant that Andreas Skov Olsen’s back-post header wouldn’t have counted had he directed it on target
a chance which proved to be one of very few in a rather low-key first half
Dortmund were unable to build on their advantage before half-time
failing to carve out further clear-cut opportunities
Dortmund looked to impose themselves on the match after the restart
As the hour mark approached, they did just that as Pascal Gross produced a moment of brilliance
executing an exceptional Cruyff turn that opened up the space to pick out Guirassy
who swept home first-time from close range
Now playing with added confidence, the hosts were celebrating again thanks to substitute Adeyemi’s skillful dribble and emphatic finish, putting the game beyond Wolfsburg
any lingering doubts were firmly put to bed as Adeyemi again displayed his tight control
carrying the ball into the box before netting a second on his 100th BVB appearance
With the game now beyond them, Die Wölfe almost dug out a consolation courtesy of Mohamed Amoura’s bicycle kick
but there was ultimately no silver lining for the visitors
An efficient display sees Dortmund leapfrog SC Freiburg
laying claim to the final UCL spot with just two games left
albeit having played one more than their closest rivals
an eighth consecutive Bundesliga encounter without victory (D2
L6) – the division’s longest current winless streak – leaves them 12th in the table with little left to play for
Flashscore Man of the Match: Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund)
Match statsStatsPerformCheck out the match summary here
The 20-year-old winger’s talent is undeniable
Gittens has reverted to a substitute role with limited gametime
Yet Kovač has started Gittens in two important matches in a row
and the player has offered very little besides a late goal against Freiburg
watching the player in this season’s conclusion
it’s becoming painfully obvious that Gittens doesn’t want to be here any longer
If Jamie Gittens’ start against Wolfsburg came as a surprise to you
According to the local news source, RN BVB
Gittens has even been heard in the locker room commenting on his future:
This exemplifies the attitude shift we’ve seen in Gittens this season
Gittens was one of the few players who shone
and his signature move has become predictable
and his movement was lethargic - the signs of a player who doesn’t really care anymore
I believe the decision to start Gittens is Dortmund’s attempt to raise his transfer value with a couple of good performances
If Jamie performs like this in our last two matches
and his attitude will certainly reflect poorly on him as a player
every match should be treated like a final
So many Borussia Dortmund players are ready to go out there and give it their all
knowing the European Qualification is on the line
Julian Brandt is likely heading for an exit
but he’s still out there giving it his all
then he needs to stay on the bench and wait for the offers to come in
But if he expects that Chelsea or Arsenal will sign him as a starting winger
While Chelsea have been most closely linked with Gittens, it seems Arsenal are now very interested as well
We can’t say precisely how this saga will conclude
but it’s all but certain Jamie Gittens will leave
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Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Minute Media or its affiliates and related brands
Joey has written about Borussia Dortmund for several years and has been a fan of the German club much longer
His work has previously appeared on SB Nation's Fear The Wall and his creative work has been published internationally
Joey's stories and essays can be found across the internet and in print from Half and One Journal
Joey holds a BA in Creative Writing from Susquehanna University and an MFA in Creative Writing from Alma College
Joey enjoys writing fiction and playing Disc Golf
According to the local news source, RN BVB
While Chelsea have been most closely linked with Gittens, it seems Arsenal are now very interested as well
It seems the young Englishman already has one foot out the door at BVB
The youngster has bagged eight goals in 30 Bundesliga matches and four more in the Champions League in what has been his best campaign so far
Football.London report that talks with rival side Chelsea have already started, but he is said to prefer a move to North London under manager Mikel Arteta due to the better possibility for minutes on the pitch in a smaller squad
Dortmund are said to be asking around £43 million for the talented winger who could rival Gabriel Martinelli in the left winger position
Arteta's men are on course to finish second for the third successive season but could still challenge for the Champions League as they prepare to face Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain this week
Gittens will be watching both Chelsea and Arsenal in action over the next few days as he makes a decision on his future
which is looking brighter than ever as top sides enter the race for his signature
Arsenal have reportedly moved a 'step ahead' of Chelsea in the race to sign Borussia Dortmund star Jamie Gittens
Danish coach Mike Tullberg will take over for the last two games of the season
The previous Dortmund Under-19 coach was originally only supposed to take over the Under-23 coaching position from the new season
But due to the latest development at the club, the 39-year-old will already take over the reigns as from Friday evening in the direct duel in the fight for relegation against VfB Stuttgart II
Tullberg is quite satisfied with his new job
"I am very happy that I will remain part of BVB in the future and that we have agreed on an agreement for 2028
and my family feels incredibly comfortable here in the region
I have experienced many special moments as a coach at Borussia Dortmund."
"I am absolutely motivated to work successfully with our Uner-23 team from the new season and to promote the development of our talents in my new position"
Julien Duranville (L) of Borussia Dortmund vies with Aster Vranckx of VfL Wolfsburg during the first division of Bundesliga football match between Borussia Dortmund and VfL Wolfsburg in Dortmund
Felix Nmecha (C) of Borussia Dortmund vies with Bence Dardai (L) of VfL Wolfsburg during the first division of Bundesliga football match between Borussia Dortmund and VfL Wolfsburg in Dortmund
Karim Adeyemi (R) of Borussia Dortmund vies with Aster Vranckx of VfL Wolfsburg during the first division of Bundesliga football match between Borussia Dortmund and VfL Wolfsburg in Dortmund
Serhou Guirassy (3rd L) of Borussia Dortmund celebrates scoring with his teammates during the first division of Bundesliga football match between Borussia Dortmund and VfL Wolfsburg in Dortmund
Felix Nmecha (front R) of Borussia Dortmund vies with Bence Dardai (front L) of VfL Wolfsburg during the first division of Bundesliga football match between Borussia Dortmund and VfL Wolfsburg in Dortmund
Serhou Guirassy (R) of Borussia Dortmund vies with Kilian Fischer of VfL Wolfsburg during the first division of Bundesliga football match between Borussia Dortmund and VfL Wolfsburg in Dortmund
How to watch the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Wolfsburg
The hosts have climbed to sixth thanks to a solid run since Kovac's arrival
Ralph Hasenhuttl's Wolfsburg have fallen off a cliff
They're winless in seven and slumped to 12th
managing just two points from that miserable run
their away record gives them a glimmer of hope
and Bremen have picked up more wins on the road than their seven
Wolfsburg have coughed up a whopping 17 points from winning positions
GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch
In the United States (US), the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Wolfsburg will be available to watch and stream online live through ESPN+
Check out GOAL's Live Match Centre for updates
If you are abroad, you may need to use a virtual private network (VPN) in order to watch games using your usual streaming service. A VPN, such as NordVPN, allows you to establish a secure connection online when streaming. If you are not sure which VPN to use, check out GOAL's guide to the best VPNs for streaming sport
The Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Wolfsburg will be played at the Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund
It will kick off at 9:30 am PT / 12:30 pm ET on Saturday
Emre Can could be pushed back into midfield due to injuries to Marcel Sabitzer and Pascal Gross
with Maximilian Beier out until late May due to an ankle knock
expect Julian Brandt and Karim Adeyemi to provide support for in-form striker Serhou Guirassy
and Ramy Bensebaini—who started in the back three against Hoffenheim
are without suspended midfield anchor Maximilian Arnold and injured Mattias Svanberg
so Bence Dardai and Yannick Gerhardt may be thrown into the engine room
Jonas Wind and Mohamed Amoura could flank Patrick Wimmer
injuries have ravaged Hasenhuttl's options
and Konstantinos Koulierakis as the likely centre-back trio
with Jakub Kaminski and Joakim Maehle expected to operate as wing-backs
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Dortmund beurlaubt U23-Trainer Zimmermann | OneFootballdieblaue24
Aus Angst vor dem Drittliga-Abstieg hat Borussia Dortmund nach dem 2:4 in Wiesbaden seinen U23-Trainer Jan Zimmermann beurlaubt
Für die beiden letzten Saisonspiele übernimmt Mike Tullberg
Der bisherige U19-Coach des BVB sollte ursprünglich erst zur neuen Saison den Trainerposten der U23 übernehmen
Durch die jüngsten sportlichen Entwicklungen sitzt der 39-Jährige bereits am Freitagabend im direkten Duell im Kampf um den Klassenerhalt gegen den VfB Stuttgart II (19 Uhr) auf der Bank
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to get back into the top four and boost their chances of a Champions League spot next season
last season's Champions League finalists who for weeks looked at risk of missing out on Europe's premier club competition
climbed to fourth place on 51 points with their fifth win in the last six league games
They are ahead on goal difference of Freiburg, who host Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday, and a point ahead of sixth-placed RB Leipzig, who drew 3-3 with league leaders Bayern Munich
The top four teams earn an automatic spot in next season's lucrative Champions League
Guinea international Guirassy struck after three minutes
charging into the box and pouncing on some sloppy defending to tuck the ball home before adding another just before the hour after a superb passing move for his 19th league goal
Substitute Adeyemi then took matters into his own hands with two goals in four minutes
following a superb solo 35-metre run and then made it 4-0 with a similar effort to put the game to bed
Borussia Dortmund cruised past VfL Wolfsburg 4-0 in the Bundesliga on Saturday, with Serhou Guirassy and Karim Adeyemi both scoring twice
They are ahead on goal difference of Freiburg, who host Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday, and a point ahead of sixth-placed RB Leipzig, who drew 3-3 with league leaders Bayern Munich
Guinea international Guirassy struck after three minutes
Signs have been pointing towards the departure of Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens for some time
Local publication Ruhr Nachrichten now reports that the 20-year-old has already informed the club of his desire to leave and has even hinted at a summer departure within the BVB dressing room
Gittens is reportedly eyeing a move to England
with Arsenal currently leading London rivals Chelsea in the race for his signature
Dortmund are said to be open to selling the highly rated winger for a fee in the region of €50–60 million
Gittens has contributed 12 goals and five assists in 46 appearances for Dortmund
Bundesliga side Wolfsburg have parted ways with manager Ralph Hasenhuettl following a 4-0 loss to Borussia Dortmund on Saturday
The club announced the Austrians’ dismissal in a statement on Sunday
citing poor recent results as the reason for the decision
Wolfsburg have lost six of their last eight matches and managed just two wins since January
slipping to 12th in the Bundesliga standings after once being in contention for European qualification
replacing Niko Kovac—who now manages Dortmund—after previously leading Southampton for four years in the Premier League
Wolfsburg confirmed that Under-19 coach Daniel Bauer will take over on an interim basis for the remainder of the season
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Bundesliga club Wolfsburg parted ways with manager Ralph Hasenhuettl on Sunday
just one day after their crushing 4-0 loss to Borussia Dortmund
confirming the termination of the Austrian’s contract
citing poor results over recent months as the main reason for the decision
losing six of their last eight matches and winning only twice since January
After being in the race for European competition earlier in the season
Wolfsburg’s recent slide has left them in 12th place in the league standings
Hasenhuettl, who replaced Niko Kovac (now Dortmund’s manager) in March 2024, had joined Wolfsburg after a four-year tenure at Premier League club Southampton.
In the interim, Daniel Bauer, the club’s Under-19s coach, will take over the managerial duties.
Yunusa Adamu Dangwani, a former close associate of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and a notable…
the American-based company best known for their online stores
with the goal of building the Borussia Dortmund brand in the United States
This morning, Borussia Dortmund announced a brand-new partnership with Sports Endeavors LLC
The timing of the announcement is exciting for a number of reasons, as Borussia Dortmund is sending their “Legends” squad to TST in Cary
while their senior squad heads to the Club World Cup starting later that same month
Soccer.com will also be a primary collaborator in fan-based events
utilizing their connections across the USA to offer unique fan experiences
bridging the gap between German Dortmund fan culture
in a country with a growing base of supporters
the Chief Marketing Officer of Sports Endeavors LLC
I’m very excited to see the aesthetically unpleasing 1&1 logo disappear from the heart of Borussia Dortmund’s jerseys
this new partnership could foreshadow the appearance of BVB’s 25/26 kits
and I’m all for a plain line of text after enduring a logo debatably designed in Minecraft
The new home kit is typically unveiled and worn for the final match day of the season
so perhaps this theory will be confirmed soon
The timing of the announcement is exciting for a number of reasons, as Borussia Dortmund is sending their “Legends” squad to TST in Cary, North Carolina, while their senior squad heads to the Club World Cup starting later that same month.
Soccer.com will also be a primary collaborator in fan-based events, utilizing their connections across the USA to offer unique fan experiences, bridging the gap between German Dortmund fan culture, in a country with a growing base of supporters.
Mark Lingenhoff, Managing Director for BVB Americas Inc., and Brian Berklich, the Chief Marketing Officer of Sports Endeavors LLC, both weighed in on the announcement:
On a personal level, I’m very excited to see the aesthetically unpleasing 1&1 logo disappear from the heart of Borussia Dortmund’s jerseys. While it’s only speculation, this new partnership could foreshadow the appearance of BVB’s 25/26 kits, and I’m all for a plain line of text after enduring a logo debatably designed in Minecraft. The new home kit is typically unveiled and worn for the final match day of the season, so perhaps this theory will be confirmed soon.
With the 1&1 deal expiring at the end of June this year, BVB have signed a new partnership.
the player entourage declared that Nico is fully committed to Borussia Dortmund and wants to build something at the club
Nico Schlotterbeck's personnel have reacted and spoken with Sky Sports journalist Patrick Berger. According to Berger, his side clarified that the video call with Newcastle that BVB Buzz recently reported on was three years ago
One month ago, Nico Schlotterbeck broke the silence on his future at the club
saying that Borussia Dortmund is his first option
while contract renewal discussions are still to take place to lock the central defender at the Signal Iduna Park for the long term
Schlotterbeck's current deal lasts until June 2027
With Nico's injury that took him out for the rest of the current campaign and the Club World Cup
it is still unknown when these contract conversations will happen
it would all depend on the club's project for the future and the European qualification
with the two Bundesliga teams still in play
but perspectives are positive for BVB with the recent news
there is no doubt that Nico Schlotterbeck should be Dortmund's franchise player
Keeping him at the Westfalenstadion would mean an advancement in the club's aspirations for the future
which could also influence other stars to stay for the long run
With the Bundesliga attracting more attention and players in recent years
Borussia Dortmund do not have the luxury to stay behind and think that tradition and influence will be enough to reach the top
One month ago, Nico Schlotterbeck broke the silence on his future at the club
With Nico's injury that took him out for the rest of the current campaign and the Club World Cup, it is still unknown when these contract conversations will happen. Also, it would all depend on the club's project for the future and the European qualification, with the two Bundesliga teams still in play, but perspectives are positive for BVB with the recent news.
Personally, there is no doubt that Nico Schlotterbeck should be Dortmund's franchise player, as they say in the United States. Keeping him at the Westfalenstadion would mean an advancement in the club's aspirations for the future, which could also influence other stars to stay for the long run.
With the Bundesliga attracting more attention and players in recent years, Borussia Dortmund do not have the luxury to stay behind and think that tradition and influence will be enough to reach the top.
The German international's side has spoken on the alleged Newcastle phone call and talked about his allegiance to Dortmund.
The player's entourage recently held talks in Dortmund; however
an agreement with loan club Stade Brestois 29 would also be required in order for the BVB academy talent to return
Borussia Dortmund would like to bring Soumaïla Coulibaly back for the Club World Cup, as Sky Sports journalist Patrick Berger reported
With Nico Schlotterbeck's season-ending injury earlier last month
Borussia Dortmund is depleted in depth at central defense
especially since Niko Kovač has adopted a back-three system in recent weeks
without Nico and Filippo Mané also leaving injured from the Borussia Dortmund II weekend match
there is a need for at least one other defender in the first team squad
the Black and Yellows will have to move faster in this summer transfer window
Borussia Dortmund is in Group F with Brazilian side Fluminense
In the light of such a unique event in the football calendar
Soumaïla Coulibaly could be seen wearing Black and Yellow once again after getting regular minutes at Brest this season
He played 1.074 minutes in 15 games between Ligue 1 and the Champions League with no goals or assists
With Nico Schlotterbeck's season-ending injury earlier last month
With the season ending approaching, the Black and Yellows will have to move faster in this summer transfer window, as the World Cup is on June 14th. Borussia Dortmund is in Group F with Brazilian side Fluminense, Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa, and Korean Ulsan HD FC.
In the light of such a unique event in the football calendar, Soumaïla Coulibaly could be seen wearing Black and Yellow once again after getting regular minutes at Brest this season. He played 1.074 minutes in 15 games between Ligue 1 and the Champions League with no goals or assists.
The Brest loanee could be back in Black and Yellow for the Club World Cup in June.
as the Black and Yellows put four past Wolsfsburg in the Westfalenstadion
Borussia Dortmund faced VfL Wolfsburg in another must-win game in their pursuit of European football
but an early goal from Serhou Guirassy put Dortmund ahead
The second half was where BVB showed their strength
putting together a team goal for Guirassy’s second
followed by a super-sub brace from Karim Adeyemi
Wolfsburg became lethargic and never looked like they could fight back
and now we must wait and see how other results go
here are my Player Ratings for the 4-0 win
Gregor Kobel (8/10) – Kobel didn’t have too much to do
but he managed a pair of saves to earn his first clean sheet in two months
Ramy Bensebaini (6/10) – Aside from assisting Adeyemi’s first goal
leaving Svensson to cover for him on multiple occasions
Waldemar Anton (8/10) – Anton had another strong game today
leading the back line and winning all of his aerial duals
Niklas Süle (7/10) – Süle is another player who has found new life under Niko Kovač
He even had a great sprint toward the end of the match
Daniel Svensson (6/10) - Svensson was all over the pitch today
and he was pulled into defense a bit too much
but his passing accuracy was below what we’ve come to expect from him
Pascal Groß (7/10) – It was good to see Groß back
as his midfield control brings stability to the side
His best play was a cheeky assist to Guirassy for the second goal
Felix Nmecha (7/10) - Nmecha had a pretty quiet game
but his pivot with Pascal Groß prevented a lot of attacking opportunities from forming in Wolsfburg’s attack
Julian Ryerson (7/10) – Ryerson isn’t always the most creative player
but he’s tenatious and can be quick when he needs to be
but still managed three successful dribbles
Julian Brandt (9/10) – Please don’t hate me for this rating
Brandt provided the assist to Guirassy’s first goal
His run to keep the ball in play ahead of Guriassy’s second goal was crucial to the goal itself
Jamie Gittens (4/10) – Jamie looks like he has one foot out the door
Serhou Guirassy (9/10) – For only having about one touch every three minutes in this game
Guirassy was clinical when the ball was at his feet
while the second was a masterful redirection of the ball
Karim Adeyemi (10/10) – Adyemi was introduced as a second half substitute and scored twice while showing off some world-class dribbling
Marcel Sabitzer (N/A) – None of these players was terribly influential
It’s concerning how few minutes Chukwuemeka has played
Niko Kovač (7/10) – I can only imagine Kovač’s choice to start Jamie Gittens comes from a place of optimism rather than pragmatism
a characteristic usually more in tune with the Croat
and BVB have limited opportunities to win matches
but every player out there wants to play in Europe next season
Yet it looks like Jamie Gittens doesn’t care
we’re going to earn less from his transfer than if he rides the bench
Our left flank was exploited and we got lucky a few times
as the tactical adjustments Nico Kovač made helped BVB find that second goal
Perhaps it was Kovač’s intent to wear down Wolfsburg
then unleash Adeyemi to kill the game off on a fatigued back line
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and Borussia Dortmund won their third consecutive league match
BVB will need a win just to stay within reach
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The Black and Yellows are currently in 6th place in the league
which would qualify BVB for the UEFA Conference League for next season
while RB Leipzig are one point ahead in 5th and Freiburg three points ahead in 4th
BVB comes from three straight wins for the first time in the season
with the hope of making it four in front of the Yellow Wall
Borussia Dortmund will play Wolfsburg at the Westfalenstadion with the goal of keeping the run for European football alive
is currently sitting in 12th place with 39 points
nine points behind BVB on the Bundesliga table
The Wolves find themselves in a difficult spot heading into the Signal Iduna Park
as they haven't won a Bundesliga game since March 1st in the 2-1 away win against Bremen
and with the mission to break a 7-match winless streak against Dortmund
even though they are at no risk of relegation and have minimal hope to fight for Europe
In regard to the squads ahead of this matchup
Dortmund will have the return of Pascal Groß and Marcel Sabitzer
Beier and Schlotterbeck are the only notable absences
there is a long list of players out of the game
are out on special leave and have a red card suspension
Here is Dortmund's predicted lineup against Wolfsburg on Saturday:
Gregor Kobel (GK) – With rumors circulating about Kobel's departure in the summer
nothing better than focusing on qualifying for Europe and giving Gregor more than one reason to stay at the Signal Iduna Park
Kobel is undoubtedly the only option for the goalkeeping spot
and let's hope it continues like that after the season is over
Niklas Süle (RCB) – Niklas Süle's resurgence seems to be back on track
as the German international looks in his best form since the Barcelona second leg
Following his great display against Hoffenheim
he is an unquestionable starter at this point in time
Waldemar Anton (CB) – After scoring the game-winner last week
Waldemar Anton is another one with his confidence back up since Kovač implemented the back-three system
he can keep those scoring manners in the next few matches
Ramy Bensebaini (LCB) – Bensebaini has been unfortunate on a few occasions in the past weeks. Still, he managed to bounce back against Hoffenheim
and he will be starting at the left-back role in the absence of Nico Schlotterbeck
Julian Ryerson (RWB) – Julian Ryerson will likely prevail as a starter ahead of Yan Couto
Even though the Brazilian has improved in the new role
the Norwegian will remain the starter for now
Felix Nmecha (CM) – Nmecha is getting back to shape again and will probably start once again
he needs to be more proactive out of possession if he wishes to continue in the starting XI with the new formation
Emre Can (CM) – Emre Can did not compromise as a central midfielder as much as he has been much more consistent as a center-back in that back-three formation
Can will not allow Guirassy to take the penalty next time
Julian Brandt (CAM) – Julian Brandt finally looked back in form this season. However, it is more like an oasis in a desert if we compare it to the rest of his performance in the current campaign. He will likely start in Beier's absence, but discussions remain about whether the club should keep him or not
Daniel Svensson (LWB) – Daniel Svensson has been a glad surprise in Dortmund's winter transfer window
the young Swede has been proving to be a great addition to the squad
I wonder whether Bensebaini would start ahead of him
Serhou Guirassy (ST) – Serhou Guirassy has been deadly this season
hitting the 30 goals mark in the current campaign
and let's pray that what happened against Hoffenheim and Barcelona in the first leg doesn't happen with Wolfsburg
I think Karim Adeyemi will recover his starting spot ahead of Jamie Gittens for this one
Gittens was playing well in the first half
but some of his decision-making was lacking in the second
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Gregor Kobel (GK) – With rumors circulating about Kobel's departure in the summer
Ramy Bensebaini (LCB) – Bensebaini has been unfortunate on a few occasions in the past weeks. Still, he managed to bounce back against Hoffenheim
Julian Brandt (CAM) – Julian Brandt finally looked back in form this season. However, it is more like an oasis in a desert if we compare it to the rest of his performance in the current campaign. He will likely start in Beier's absence, but discussions remain about whether the club should keep him or not.
Daniel Svensson (LWB) – Daniel Svensson has been a glad surprise in Dortmund's winter transfer window. With zero to no expectations, the young Swede has been proving to be a great addition to the squad, and, even with Nico back next year, I wonder whether Bensebaini would start ahead of him.
Serhou Guirassy (ST) – Serhou Guirassy has been deadly this season, hitting the 30 goals mark in the current campaign. However, he has his mishaps sometimes, and let's pray that what happened against Hoffenheim and Barcelona in the first leg doesn't happen with Wolfsburg.
Karim Adeyemi (ST) – Finally, I think Karim Adeyemi will recover his starting spot ahead of Jamie Gittens for this one. Gittens was playing well in the first half, but some of his decision-making was lacking in the second. For that reason, I predicted Karim back in the starting XI.
BVB will face the Wolves at Signal Iduna Park in another \"final\" for Europe.
What a performance to cement your claim on a Champions League spot: Dortmund are fully back in contention for one of the four sought-after Champions League ranks after a deserved 4-0 victory over Wolfsburg.
Niko Kovač has prepared his team brilliantly against his former side Wolfsburg: at no point during the game was a BVB victory in question. Here is a rundown of the Bundesliga top-match of matchday 32:
Similar to other games this Saturday, one team got off to a brilliant start: Dortmund's top-striker Serhou Guirassy found the back of the net in the 3rd minute after an “accidental” assist by Julian Brandt.
Dortmund were able to dominate the game, but struggled to get into good scoring positions after the first goal.
Ralph Hasenhüttl, who is rumoured to leave Wolfsburg at the end of the season, couldn't get his team to use their strengths against Dortmund - BVB had full control over the game without extending their lead. Half time score: 1-0.
It was the 2nd half in which Dortmund made use of their dominance and scored more goals. Guirassy scored his 2nd of the match after a brilliant assist from Pascal Groß in minute 59.
After that it was Karim Adeyemi who stole the show in the Westfalen Stadion: he scored two goals in the 69th and in the 73rd minute, making it 4-0 to the Borussia. Final result: BVB 4-0 Wolfsburg.
BVB has managed to get the fans fully back on their side after some questionable performances during the season. If they can keep up this energy and also this level of performance, the qualification for the Champions League, once called “impossible”, is more than realistic!
Wolfsburg on the other side are in no man's land of the Bundesliga table; their season is pretty much over, since they can't qualify for any European competition anymore. At least they don't have to worry about the relegation battle, too.
Ralph Hasenhüttl's future at Wolfsburg, as adressed earlier, is more uncertain than ever before.
and keep their slim hopes of a top four finish alive with four matches left to play
Only five days after their Champions League exit to Barcelona despite a 3-1 quarterfinal second leg win
Dortmund came from a goal down to bag the win that lifted them to seventh on 45 points
the last place to offer automatic Champions League qualification
"It was important that we beat a strong Gladbach team," said Dortmund coach Niko Kovac
"We have a good development but we have to win the next game
It is only about us and on the 17th of May [season finale] we will know more about where we stand."
The hosts had complete control at the start with more than 70% possession and two good chances before Gladbach struck against the run of play with Ko Itakura in the 24th minute
The Japanese, however, allowed Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy too much space in the box in the 41st to drill in from a Pascal Gross cutback after good early work from substitute Carney Chukwuemeka
The introduction of Chukwuemeka a few minutes before their first goal completely changed their game
Only three minutes after levelling, in an almost identical move it was Felix Nmecha who slotted in to put them in front before Daniel Svensson headed in on the rebound deep in first half stoppage time
"Things did not initially go as planned with Gladbach's first goal and the injury of Maximilian Beier [in the 35th]," Kovac said
"But overall after the game against Barcelona and Bayern [last week] it was another tough game but we gave it all and earned the three points through hard work."
Gladbach pulled a goal back with a Kevin Stoeger penalty in the 56th but Dortmund held on for their third league win in the last four games
Borussia Dortmund struck three times in nine first-half minutes to battle past visiting Borussia Monchengladbach 3-2 in the Bundesliga on Sunday
Only five days after their Champions League exit to Barcelona despite a 3-1 quarterfinal second leg win
\"It was important that we beat a strong Gladbach team,\" said Dortmund coach Niko Kovac
\"We have a good development but we have to win the next game
It is only about us and on the 17th of May [season finale] we will know more about where we stand.\"
The Japanese, however, allowed Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy too much space in the box in the 41st to drill in from a Pascal Gross cutback after good early work from substitute Carney Chukwuemeka
Only three minutes after levelling, in an almost identical move it was Felix Nmecha who slotted in to put them in front before Daniel Svensson headed in on the rebound deep in first half stoppage time
\"Things did not initially go as planned with Gladbach's first goal and the injury of Maximilian Beier [in the 35th],\" Kovac said
\"But overall after the game against Barcelona and Bayern [last week] it was another tough game but we gave it all and earned the three points through hard work.\"
The 20-year-old has reportedly even told teammates he’s on the way out, and his representatives have made that desire clear to Dortmund.
Though plenty of outlets have linked Chelsea with a move, and Ruhr Nachrichten confirm that there’s something in the rumours, they add that Arsenal are also in the mix.
According to the report, Arsenal are even ahead of Chelsea in the race, particularly as they present a more appealing destination to the player.
The Gunners are higher in the league and would likely provide more consistent minutes, whilst Chelsea are viewed as more chaotic with the way they’re signing and offloading players in the same positions every summer.
Dortmund want €50-60m (£42.6-51.2m) for the sale, and they’ll be willing to discuss a suitable offer whether they qualify for the Champions League or not.
But missing out on the top four would clearly put them under more pressure, and they sit fifth by a point with two games remaining.
Bynoe-Gittens has made 46 appearances for Dortmund this season, starting 34 times. He has 12 goals and five assists in all competitions, including five goal contributions in 14 Champions League matches.
Arsenal are clearly in the market for a winger this summer, but Bynoe-Gittens will be just one of multiple options at this stage.
Considering that many players have contracts close to an expiration date
Sebastian Kehl and company will need to be creative and active to find the right ingredients to change BVB's midfield recipe in the summer
Dortmund's most problematic area during this campaign — the midfield — has become an issue at Signal Iduna Park
Julian Brandt went from Dortmund's new 10 to a transfer dilemma
as he is 28 and likely the last chance to make a profit out of it
the midfield could be depleted in the creative department
even though the current options are not meeting Borussia Dortmund's standards
Others reject that idea (that there are no replacements in mind) and believe this is the best situation to get some value for the boy from Bremen
who has had his good highlights and moments in Black and Yellow
but failed to achieve the consistency status of a top Bundesliga attacking midfileder
like Musiala and Wirtz did in a shorter spam of time
Kehl will have many complex and vital decisions to make by the end of this season
could change the scenario and attract more interest from players at Signal Iduna Park
the sporting director needs to work with what he has at hand right now
and there are good arguments on both sides of the Brandt conundrum
as I still believe he is useful and could renegotiate his deal with the club
I understand the appeal of making money now for a 28-year-old player who has had consistency issues for most of his career
or whoever is the sporting director in the near future
With Brandt's contract set to expire in 2026
BVB fans are questioning the plan for the current number 10 role
With Matchday 32 of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season in the books, Bulinews.com Editor-in-Chief Rune Gjerulff has picked his Team of the Week
this time lining up in a 3-1-4-2 formation
Vasilj delivered an outstanding performance before his injury-time red card
including stopping a penalty from Nick Woltemade
The Brazilian defender showed why he's in high demand
winning 14 of 16 duels to help Bochum secure a hard-fought clean sheet against Heidenheim
winning eight of 10 duels and completing 92% of his passes in Dortmund’s dominant 4-0 win over Wolfsburg
The young wing-back was central to Union Berlin’s attacking play
scoring and providing an assist in their 2-2 draw with Werder Bremen
The French winger was pivotal in Gladbach’s thrilling 4-4 draw with Hoffenheim
The Danish midfielder netted an impressive brace within the first 15 minutes of Werder's 2-2 draw with Union Berlin
Kramaric’s creative brilliance shone through as he assisted three goals
though it wasn’t enough for Hoffenheim to secure a win against Gladbach
scoring twice after coming on in the second half of Dortmund's victory over Wolfsburg
Guirassy was once again crucial for Dortmund
scoring twice to help secure a comfortable win over Wolfsburg
Netting an impressive brace to lead Kiel to three vital points against Augsburg
Borussia Dortmund’s surge up the Bundesliga table continues
Having watched all results go their way this afternoon
winning 4-0 against Ralph Hasenhüttl’s men and climbing into the top four
Serhou Guirassy put Dortmund 1-0 up early in the game
It wasn’t until an hour into the game that BVB seemed to get going and blew Wolfsburg away in the process
followed by two lovely Karim Adeyemi efforts
despite only really putting their foot on the gas in the final half hour
Dortmund are now level with Freiburg on 51 points, but Freiburg will play Bayer Leverkusen tomorrow afternoon. BVB have a real shot at qualifying for the Champions League next season
which is remarkable given where they were just a few weeks ago
Here’s our nominations for MOTM in BVB’s 4-0 win against Wolfsburg
Striker gets nominated for Man of the Match
Brandt’s form has picked up in the last two games
He picked up two assists this afternoon and was heavily involved in BVB’s best work
This is the Julian Brandt we know and love
Groß gets a nomination for the lovely turn for his assist in Guirassy’s second goal
but I thought he had a solid game besides that naughty bit of skill
Adeyemi was subbed into the game with a little over 20 minutes left
He came on and scored two excellent individual goals
Will BVB do the unthinkable and qualify for the Champions League
According to the English newspaper the Sun
Borussia Dortmund is showing growing interest in signing striker Luighi
The 19-year-old attacker from Palmeiras has been heavily linked with a move to Europe this summer
While Luighi penned a new deal at Palmeiras until 2029 last week
this has not dampened the interest of the European football elite
Arsenal and Inter Milan are also reportedly actively pursuing Luighi
The main sticking point from a BVB perspective is that the right-footer is said to have a release clause of around €82 million at Palmeiras.
ShareSaveCommentBusinessSportsMoneyHow Much Will Bayern Munich And Dortmund Earn From The Club World Cup?ByManuel Veth
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights
I write about the German football with a focus on the Bundesliga.Follow AuthorApr 30
09:47am EDTShareSaveCommentBayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will participate at the FIFA Club World Cup this upcoming ..
The world soccer governing body FIFA had previously communicated that the tournament would include a $1 billion prize pool distributed to the 32 teams
The winner of the tournament could earn up to $125 million
For European clubs like Bayern and Dortmund that would have been €923 million when FIFA made the announcement
means that the prize pool to be earned by clubs from UEFA has dropped to just €877 million
The prize pool is divided into two categories
The first category is the sporting performance pillar which is worth $475 million
The second category is the participation pillar worth $525 million
How does this break down for the two Bundesliga clubs? While Austrian club RB Salzburg is the lowest end of the prize pool available for European clubs. This is determined by the UEFA club co-efficient ranking and the club’s contribution to UEFA marketing over the last four years.
Based on that, kicker have calculated that Manchester City ranks ahead of Real Madrid within UEFA’s ranking. Man City will, therefore, receive around $38 million from participating in the tournament. Real Madrid ranks second with $35.8 million.
The two Bundesliga clubs Bayern and Dortmund rank third and sixth respectively. This means that Bayern will earn a guaranteed $33.5 million and Dortmund $26.6 million. The report adds that Man City could earn a maximum of €110.4 million ($125 million).
With Bayern ranked only marginally behind the Premier League giants, the expectations in Munich are that the Rekordmeister could earn over $100 million from playing in the tournament. Dortmund would come in just under the $100 million mark should the Black and Yellows win the tournament.
Both clubs have aspirations to go deep in the tournament. The Rekordmeister has been very aggressive in its pursuit to sign Florian Wirtz from competitor Bayer Leverkusen. With Leverkusen expecting €140 million ($160 million) for the player, a deep run at the Club World Cup would help Bayern.
For Dortmund, in the meantime, the expectation was that the tournament would help alleviate the financial impact of missing out on Champions League football. But recent results in the Bundesliga have put Dortmund back in the race for a top-four spot. Hence, the tournament could now be a significant financial bonus rather than an insurance policy for Dortmund.
Serhou Guirassy scored a hat trick for Dortmund to condemn Barça to their first defeat in 24 games across all competitions this year
but that could not prevent the Catalans from reaching the last four for the first time since 2019
Barcelona will play either Inter Milan or Bayern Munich
I had a feeling something like that would happen today because I know the stadium well," Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said
"Things didn't go too well for us but Dortmund played very well
I'm really happy for the team and the club."
The visitors found themselves on the back foot from the start with Dortmund shooting out of the blocks as they attempted to bounce back from last week's 4-0 first-leg loss
Dortmund, who drew 2-2 against Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga on Saturday
had two golden chances in the opening minutes before Guirassy's chipped penalty in the 11th minute gave them a deserved lead
The Spaniards, unbeaten in 2025 going into the game, gradually fought their way back and could have levelled were it not for some sloppy finishing from Jules Koundé in the 40th
After the break, however, Dortmund were again the stronger side at the start and Guirassy headed in after Ramy Bensebaini's nod from a corner four minutes after the restart to ignite hopes of a potential record-matching comeback
Dortmund's attempt to match Barcelona's Champions League record of overturning a four-goal first-leg deficit in a knockout stage was derailed by Bensebaini's 54th-minute own goal that settled Spanish nerves
Robert Lewandowski had put Bensebaini under pressure as he chased a cutback from Fermín López
and the Dortmund player stabbed the ball into his own net
Lopez then had a chance to score himself in the 64th but his shot missed the target
the first Dortmund player to score 13 goals in a single Champions League campaign
pouncing on a defensive error by Ronald Araújo
But with Dortmund still needing two more goals to take the game to extra time
"We wanted to play better and more courageously and support each other more on the pitch," Dortmund's Pascal Gross said
"We did that today and it was a completely different game
It's a shame we didn't play like that in the first leg as we could have got something out of it."
Five-time European champions Barcelona reached their first Champions League semifinal in six seasons with a 5-3 aggregate victory despite being beaten 3-1 by Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday
Serhou Guirassy scored a hat trick for Dortmund to condemn Barça to their first defeat in 24 games across all competitions this year
I had a feeling something like that would happen today because I know the stadium well,\" Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said
\"Things didn't go too well for us but Dortmund played very well
I'm really happy for the team and the club.\"
Dortmund, who drew 2-2 against Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga on Saturday
The Spaniards, unbeaten in 2025 going into the game, gradually fought their way back and could have levelled were it not for some sloppy finishing from Jules Koundé in the 40th
After the break, however, Dortmund were again the stronger side at the start and Guirassy headed in after Ramy Bensebaini's nod from a corner four minutes after the restart to ignite hopes of a potential record-matching comeback
Robert Lewandowski had put Bensebaini under pressure as he chased a cutback from Fermín López
\"We wanted to play better and more courageously and support each other more on the pitch,\" Dortmund's Pascal Gross said
\"We did that today and it was a completely different game
It's a shame we didn't play like that in the first leg as we could have got something out of it.\"
In his latest press conference ahead of the Wolfsburg game
Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovač provided a squad health update and touched on how vital Saturday's game is for their ambitions
"It looks like we won't have Maxi Beier with us tomorrow
“We know the importance of tomorrow's game
We want to unleash a force together with the fans that will make it difficult for the opponent,” Kovač explained
The 53-year-old made no bones about it that BVB are reliant on other teams' results as much as their own as the hunt for the final European football places turns up a notch
We have to do our homework and perform with the same energy as in recent weeks
"The situation after my arrival wasn't easy
But the boys have been developing very well since then
If we achieve our goals at the end of the season
Julian Brandt was also subjected for some praise after an upturn in performances
particularly against Hoffenheim last weekend
He had many good moments against Hoffenheim
I hope he performs just as well in the next three matches," he said
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playMoreno slams Bayern for giving up a late winner for Inter (1:50)Ale Moreno says Bayern Munich lacked leadership on the field as they blew a late equaliser and allowed Inter to take a 2-1 lead into the second leg
Germany -- I'm writing this week's column while speeding through the Baden-Württemberg countryside on the Deutsche Bahn
Green leaves are filling up the trees and there are discernible signs of spring blossom wherever you look
This is my favorite time in the German football season
Der Endspurt (the final sprint to the line) played out in better weather amid delightfully long days is what we all yearn for in the dark days of winter
You can make the case that it has, temporarily at least, been surpassed in importance by the clashes between Bayern and Bayer Leverkusen in the past two years, domestically as well as in the UEFA Champions League
But there is still something evocative about Germany's two most avidly followed and most successful sides in their distinctive colors walking out on to the pitch simultaneously
Although this is no meeting of Spitzenreiter (high flyers)
the fixture has considerable meaning for both Bayern and BVB and still qualifies as a Prestigeduell (top
I picked up the latest edition of specialist football magazine Kicker
a bible for many of us who live German football full time
I rather liked their alliterative front cover headline
Defeat for either side will have consequences
and a draw opens the door to a stressful Endspurt in each case
Bayern need to keep Leverkusen at bay in the race for the Meisterschale
while Dortmund will need all the points they can muster to reach any European competition
That this 112th Bundesliga edition of der Klassiker is sandwiched in between Champions League quarterfinal assignments has added another dynamic
but in the knowledge that it will take a colossal performance in Milan against the best defense in the Champions League
Bayern boss Vincent Kompany has said he is sure the Bavarians' closest Verfolger (pursuers)
Bayern would have to fail to win three times between now and the end of the campaign
in order to surrender their lead in the table
the weight of the stage in Bayern-Dortmund meetings seemed to take a heavy toll on die Schwarz-Gelben
but by beating Bayern 2-0 at the Allianz Arena last season
and thus ending a decade of Bundesliga misery for them in Munich
it was as though the Borussia Dortmund players had made an important morale-boosting statement to themselves
In November's highly entertaining 1-1 joust with Bayern
they more than matched the Rekordmeister for large swathes of the game
Things have changed considerably for both clubs since then
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Dortmund have a new coach in former Bayern player and manager Niko Kovač
but it generally gives the side a more solid base from which to operate
Then there is the absence of Jamal Musiala
play1:18Moreno: Dortmund never stood a chance against BarcelonaAle Moreno says it's no surprise to see Borussia Dortmund handed a heavy defeat by Barcelona
I usually have an instinctive feeling about who will take the spoils in the Klassiker
Dortmund can in a sense be Königsmacher (king maker) considering they still have to go to Leverkusen on the penultimate matchday, but BVB are more preoccupied with their own situation, and if they play with the verve and energy of the past couple of Bundesliga weeks (they outran Freiburg considerably), they still have a chance of taking something from an otherwise-turmoil-ridden season.
So forget that it's not first against second. Some 75,000 fans await on what will be a glorious Saturday evening weather wise in Munich in the knowledge that this still means a lot, which gives the occasion plenty of appetizing ingredients.
Borussia Dortmund continued their late season top-four march on Saturday, beating Wolfsburg 4-0 at home thanks to braces from Serhou Guirassy and Karim Adeyemi.
Guirassy gave Dortmund the lead after just three minutes and added a second on the 58th-minute mark, slashing in from close range after some deceptive lead-up work from Pascal Gross.
Adeyemi then scored two goals in four second-half minutes to put Dortmund on track for their fifth win in their past six games.
Dortmund, as low as 11th this season, went up to fourth with the victory and will stay there if Leverkusen beat Freiburg on Sunday.
Guirassy, who joined Dortmund in the summer, now has 19 games this season, with only Kane having more, with 24 strikes in his lead.
The 29-year-old told Sky Germany: "We're Dortmund, we have to play the Champions League next year, it's not a question. Now we've had some good results, we have to go for it."
Elsewhere, Union Berlin came from two goals down to draw 2-2 at home against Werder Bremen, denting the visitors hopes of European football this season.
Bremen, hoping to return to Europe for the first time in 15 years, were two goals up after a quarter of an hour thanks to a Jens Stage brace.
Union's Tom Rothe pulled one back with a header late in the first half and Laszlo Benes scored with six minutes remaining.
Borussia Monchengladbach's European hopes also took a hit with a wild 4-4 home draw against Hoffenheim, leaving them three points off the Europa League placings with two games remaining.
Nick Woltemade scored with two minutes remaining to send Stuttgart to a 1-0 win at Stuttgart.
Undefeated since late December, the treble-chasing Barça predictably dominated the opening stages and grabbed the lead following Raphinha's strike in the 25th minute. A string of saves from Dortmund keeper Gregor Kobel frustrated Barça for the rest of the first half
Barcelona emerged more determined after the break and it took only three minutes for them to score their second with Raphinha assisting Lewandowski
but we are not thinking about the semifinals yet
we must keep the same focus and mentality that have brought us here so far," Lewandowski told Movistar Plus
"It doesn't matter where we play and what game it is
we always want to play our football with the same commitment
"Our mindset is always going for the win and that is how we will play at Dortmund
We have to go there and play as well as we did today or even better."
Barcelona have enjoyed an incredible 23-game unbeaten run across all competitions and are the only team in Europe's top five leagues yet to lose in 2025
while still in the running to win three titles
On Wednesday, Dortmund keeper Kobel denied Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal from close range
but there was little he could do when Raphinha fired over the goal line in the 26th minute
Yamal made an impressive run from the right wing before lifting a cross toward the back post for Raphinha to head back across goal
leaving an unmarked Lewandowski to nod over the line from inches out
After that Dortmund succumbed to Barca's power and, following Fermín López stroke off the post
Lewandowski extended their lead with a bullet strike and Yamal rounded off the rout with a tidy finish from a quick counter
Barcelona thumped visitors Borussia Dortmund 4-0 in their Champions League quarterfinal first leg Wednesday after Robert Lewandowski scored two goals against his old club to earn the Catalans a sizable advantage
Undefeated since late December, the treble-chasing Barça predictably dominated the opening stages and grabbed the lead following Raphinha's strike in the 25th minute. A string of saves from Dortmund keeper Gregor Kobel frustrated Barça for the rest of the first half
we must keep the same focus and mentality that have brought us here so far,\" Lewandowski told Movistar Plus
\"It doesn't matter where we play and what game it is
\"Our mindset is always going for the win and that is how we will play at Dortmund
We have to go there and play as well as we did today or even better.\"
On Wednesday, Dortmund keeper Kobel denied Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal from close range
After that Dortmund succumbed to Barca's power and, following Fermín López stroke off the post
playMoreno: Dortmund never stood a chance against Barcelona (1:18)Ale Moreno says it's no surprise to see Borussia Dortmund handed a heavy defeat by Barcelona
Can was visibly frustrated after the match and told DAZN that it was a matter of attitude
"It's not a question of system but rather of whether everyone is willing to give 100% and make the sacrifices required in games like this," Can said
those types of mistakes are punished harshly
"We were playing against a great Barcelona team
so the only way you can beat them is if you go out there as a team
Emre Can was less than impressed with his side's performance in their 4-0 loss to Barcelona. Federico Gambarini/picture alliance via Getty Images"I think we could have done much better
"Now we need to put in a good performance [in the second leg] and try to win the game
We owe it to our fans and we need to give it everything we've got."
Dortmund manager Niko Kovac was similarly critical of his side's performance
"Deserved losers today," he told a news conference
"At this level we made too many errors which Barça took advantage of with their quality
then we conceded a goal after a foul we should not have given away
"What annoys me is we invited them to counterattack by losing the ball
It's going to be really difficult in the second leg
"I said in the meeting with the team: If you let Barça play
Treble-chasing Barça will be full of confidence for Tuesday's return leg in Germany against struggling Dortmund who are eighth in the Bundesliga standings on 41 points
five from the qualification spots for next season's Champions League
Information from Reuters and ESPN's Sam Marsden contributed to this report
playKlinsmann: Bayern outstanding in UCL win vs
Leverkusen (2:05)Jürgen Klinsmann reacts to Bayern Munich's 3-0 win vs
Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of the round of 16
Eight rounds of Bundesliga action have gone by since Borussia Dortmund last found themselves in the top half of the table
should be a permanent fixture in the top four at the lowest end of the expectations chart yet fans of the Schwarz-Gelben are once again suffering through a perplexing season
It's a campaign that began with a measure of optimism enveloping the club on the back of an improbable UEFA Champions League final appearance and what looked like a decent summer of transfer activity
Yes, the legend Marco Reus and the experienced yet often abrasive Mats Hummels had said their goodbyes
it resembled the ushering in of a new era with a new coach who understood the club
you often hear liberal use of the word Stallgeruch
It is deemed important to have this scent in your nostrils
no one can know Dortmund quite like someone enmeshed in Schwarz-Gelb and the club's unique Ruhrpott aroma
That a former player from the area in Nuri Şahin had enjoyed the apparent advantage of spending the previous Rückrunde (second half of the season) as assistant to predecessor Edin Terzić
was supposed to be proof positive of the Stallgeruch magic
Lars Ricken -- 1997 Champions League final hero -- had jumped ahead of former captain Sebastian Kehl into the sporting CEO's chair with Kehl remaining as sporting director
the controversial but clearly able talent spotter was also back
The truth is the Hinrunde (first half of the season) merely emphasised BVB's Bundesliga schizophrenia: very difficult to stop at home but visibly brittle on their travels
It must be said that the Champions League was a different and better story. However, Şahin's team made an early exit from the DFB-Pokal in October on a night in Wolfsburg when absences of key players -- especially defenders through illness and injury -- made the task well-nigh impossible
The turn of the calendar year was what sealed Şahin's fate. Defeats against defending champions Bayer Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt were always possible but the shambles up north in Kiel sandwiched in between
When Şahin suffered a fourth straight competitive defeat in Bologna on the European stage
Niko Kovač was brought in to replace Nuri Şahin as Borussia Dortmund manager in an effort to save their disappointing season. (Photo by Bernd Thissen/picture alliance via Getty Images)The choice of Niko Kovač to replace Şahin was perhaps logical as a high profile
hard taskmaster figure who was available and didn't have any Dortmund history
An outside figure able to assess things independently was clearly important
The only problem with bringing in Kovač in mid-winter was his reputation as someone who uses a pre-season to good effect with a strong emphasis on players' fitness
That of course didn't stop him arranging a Laktattest (a blood test that measures exercise intensity for the players) last week
Against Lille in the Champions League
Dortmund's fitness deficiencies were laid bare
After a promising first half in which the BVB players went crisply into challenges and worked their socks off with and against the ball
the second half saw them drop off and look frankly tired
A 1-1 scoreline at home leaves BVB's fate hanging on a shaky peg when they travel to northern France for Wednesday's round of 16 decider
This coming week will explain whether Dortmund can save their season. Augsburg this weekend is the sort of opponent the Schwarz-Gelben usually will conquer
although their away form has been excellent in 2025
as they are unbeaten on their travels with just one away goal conceded
So there could be a harter Brocken (tough nut to crack) quality to this assignment
After that, away tests in Lille and against RB Leipzig will have a big say in how we quantify Dortmund's season
I think both are doable for Kovač and his players
The Leipzig game wears the look of a game that could make or break the club's aspirations of returning to the Champions League next season. That might sound like an odd thing to say regarding a team in 10th place but BVB only three points behind Leipzig who have been wackelig (shaky) and just six points behind Mainz
who are the current occupants of the fourth Champions League place
By taking part in the FIFA Club World Cup this summer
Borussia Dortmund will be able to mitigate some of the shortfall should they miss out on the Königsklasse (high class) as the Champions League is often referred to in the German lexicon
it would still represent failure to hit the target by the club as a whole
Dan Thomas is joined by Craig Burley, Shaka Hislop and others to bring you the latest highlights and debate the biggest storylines. Stream on ESPN+ (U.S. only).
I think the easiest way to document BVB's difficulties is to go player by player and compare and contrast with their rivals. Is there one Dortmund player who would currently get into the Bayern Munich or Leverkusen sides
Last season, we might have said goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. Perhaps earlier in this campaign you could have made a case for Jamie Gittens
but alas the young Englishman is stuck in something of a Formtief (a form dip)
The next talent was always seemingly around the corner and Dortmund was clearly the place to be to make those early professional years count
I would submit that they've lost this mantle to Frankfurt who are now seeking to do what BVB used to excel at
Young players will continue to flow through their ranks but the club's focus seems different
Lille and Leipzig games will tell us a lot in the short term about the longer term substance of the case for BVB
Schlotterbeck's existing deal runs until 2027
but both parties have reportedly agreed on an extension ahead of his recovery from a knee injury
The 25-year-old Germany international chose surgery to repair a torn meniscus
a procedure that will sideline him for several months but is expected to leave his knee more robust in the long term.
he had made 23 appearances across all competitions
contributing four assists from centre back
Dortmund’s hierarchy view Schlotterbeck as a future captain and key pillar of their defence
The new deal is set to include a substantial pay rise
with his salary potentially increasing to €10 million per season
The formal signing is likely to take place after the season concludes
once he begins his rehabilitation programme
The sports of football and soccer come together on Thursday
as the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers and Bundesliga's Borussia Dortmund (BVB) announce a partnership that will further both clubs' efforts in each other's markets through joint team activities
This is the first-ever partnership of its kind for the two clubs
who are united by not only their renowned colors
but also their industrial pasts and winning traditions
as well as interest in future success and international collaboration
BVB recently hosted a Steelers delegation visit to Dortmund
complete with 2x Pro Bowler Miles Killebrew
to experience first-hand a home match at Signal Iduna Park and its world-famous 'Yellow Wall'
the largest standing terrace in European football
a BVB delegation were welcomed to Pittsburgh for a Steelers home game at Acrisure Stadium
and the requisite tailgating alongside former BVB pro Patrick Owomoyela
who also had the opportunity to link up with Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes
It was BVB's first official visit to the stadium since its 2018 USA Summer Tour
Forged in steel: The Pittsburgh Steelers & Borussia Dortmund have announced a partnership
"I was blown away by my experience at Dortmund," said Killebrew
"From the minute we arrived at Signal Iduna Park
it was clear to me how special an organization BVB is
It will be exciting to see the relationship between the Steelers and BVB grow in the future."
the Steelers received a license for Germany from the NFL as part of the league's Global Markets Program
partnerships and on-the-ground activities throughout the country of Germany
Dortmund announced the opening of its first U.S
from which it manages its activities in the Western Hemisphere
This partnership has already taken root in the form of bilateral business collaborations between Pittsburgh and Dortmund
Dortmund hosted a Steelers staff member at a recent business summit in Germany; a reciprocal event has been planned in Pittsburgh for later this spring
the Steelers will host its first-ever German-based flag football clinic at the BVB Football Academy featuring a Steelers player
the first-of-its-kind for the Steelers organization
builds off the deep connections both of our teams have with the communities we represent
determination and a winning spirit," said Pittsburgh Steelers Director of Business Development and Strategy
"We look forward to what's next as we support each other's success in reaching fans in new markets and raising the profiles of the cities we call home."
"Borussia Dortmund and the Pittsburgh Steelers share more than colors - we share the commitment to bring sports and culture together through the power of our brands
When exploring various expansion opportunities for BVB in the United States
we saw the Steelers as the ideal partner with tremendous success on the field
as well as a legacy of excellence off the field
Known for its resilience and community-first approach
the Steelers are a cornerstone of Pittsburgh's identity - and the same can be said for BVB in our Dortmund community as well
We are proud and excited to bring this synergistic partnership to life on the global stage
with the fan at the center of everything we do."
Not only are the Pittsburgh Steelers and BVB symbols of their cities' passionate fan bases and communities - but they also share an industrial past deeply rooted in the steel industry
The cities of Pittsburgh and Dortmund already share a unique bond having entered into a 'Transatlantic Innovation and Climate Partnership Agreement' - signed into effect in 2022 by Mayor Edward Gainey (City of Pittsburgh) and Mayor Thomas Westphal (City of Dortmund) - and today are leading tech and research hubs
The Steelers issued a statement from General Manager Omar Khan on Ryan Watts on Monday
The Steelers released a statement from President Art Rooney II
The partnership will enhance the fan experience at Steelers games and events
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