Less than a year after reaching the Champions League final, Borussia Dortmund welcomes Borussia Moenchengladbach in the Bundesliga this Sunday, determined to keep their hopes of European qualification alive.
At present, Dortmund are placed eighth in the league, trailing four points behind the coveted fourth position as they approach the final five matches of the season.
Their decline this season is particularly baffling given their remarkable performance against Barcelona on Tuesday, where they showcased their prowess by defeating the Catalonians 3-1 with Serhou Guirassy netting all three goals. Two other potential goals were disallowed for offside.
However, Dortmund’s prospects faltered significantly due to their lacklustre first-leg performance, which resulted in a heavy 4-0 loss.
Much like last year, when they slipped to fifth place after a series of inconsistent displays despite besting renowned teams like Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, Newcastle, and PSV Eindhoven on the way to Wembley, Dortmund’s aspirations are once again hampered by inconsistency.
Missing out on the Champions League would carry serious consequences for Dortmund, a club heavily dependent on revenue from European competitions.
Since clinching back-to-back Bundesliga titles under Jurgen Klopp in 2010 and 2011, Dortmund has only once failed to qualify for the Champions League.
A testament to the club’s inconsistency is centre-back Niklas Sule. A Champions League winner with Bayern in 2020, Sule was brought in to fortify Dortmund’s defence, but has only occasionally exhibited his top-level form.
After the match against Barcelona, Sule expressed his confusion regarding Dortmund’s unpredictability.
“We need to ask ourselves why we can’t replicate that performance in a Bundesliga match. That’s a question for us to ponder as we prepare for Gladbach, so we can deliver a similar display.
“We boast immense quality, that’s beyond doubt. The determination we exhibited today, and the way we pressured a team like Barcelona — one of the best in Europe — was commendable.
“We must accept the criticism regarding our inconsistency. But we’re actively seeking solutions and discuss it daily.”
Currently two points above Dortmund, Gladbach are also vying for a European qualification spot. A victory could see Dortmund rise to sixth place, putting them in contention for the top four as the season reaches its climax.
Bayern Munich, sitting at the summit of the table, can offset the disappointment of their Champions League exit by inching closer to the title with a win at Heidenheim.
Bayern hold a six-point advantage over Bayer Leverkusen, now in second place, with just five matches left to play.
For Leverkusen, their title defence hopes hinge on a complete meltdown from Bayern.
While such a collapse seems improbable, it has happened before, and history is not kind to Leverkusen supporters. In the 2001/02 season, they were five points clear with three games to go but ended up losing two of their last three, finishing second.
Meanwhile, coach Steffen Baumgart and his Union Berlin team could take a significant step toward ensuring top-flight football for next season with a win at home against Stuttgart on Saturday.
Baumgart’s appointment was initially met with scepticism, being branded a ‘jobs for the boys’ move, but the 53-year-old has managed to turn fortunes around in Koepenick.
Union are currently on a five-match unbeaten streak which has netted them 11 points against formidable opponents including Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt, Wolfsburg, and Freiburg.
“We aim to play our game successfully, just as we did last time,” Baumgart remarked on Thursday, adding: “Perhaps we will take that final, challenging step forward.”
Key Stats
11 in 12 – Bayern Munich have claimed 11 of the last 12 Bundesliga titles.
Four in a row – Wolfsburg have suffered four consecutive losses, leaving their European aspirations hanging by a thread.
23 – Harry Kane leads the league with 23 goals, six ahead of second-placed Patrik Schick.
Fixtures (15:30 CET unless stated):
Saturday
Heidenheim vs Bayern Munich, Mainz vs Wolfsburg, Werder Bremen vs Bochum, Freiburg vs Hoffenheim, RB Leipzig vs Holstein Kiel, Union Berlin vs Stuttgart (18:30)
Sunday
Augsburg vs Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Dortmund vs Borussia Moenchengladbach (17:30), St Pauli vs Bayer Leverkusen (19:30)
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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