All Systems Go: BVB Roars Back, Secures Champions League Spot with Dominant Performance
Borussia Dortmund advances towards the Champions League with a win
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Just a few short weeks ago, Borussia Dortmund was miles away from the international spots, but in a remarkable turn of events, the BVB has clawed its way back into the Champions League race after winning five out of their last six games. The second half against VfL Wolfsburg was a goal-frenzy.
Thanks to the clinical finishes of Serhou Guirassy and late substitute Karim Adeyemi, Borussia Dortmund remains in the hunt for the Champions League, despite a circuitous season. Guirassy (3.) and Adeyemi (69', 73') capitalized on their chances to lead BVB to a 4–0 (1–0) victory over VfL Wolfsburg, placing them temporarily in fourth position in the table. With a surging 16 points from the last six games, Dortmund moves with relentless vigor, refusing to allow any missteps.
The squad headed by Niko Kovac cannot afford any slip-ups. As early as Sunday, SC Freiburg (playing against Bayer Leverkusen) may leapfrog them once more, giving Bayern Munich a chance to clinch the title. Dortmund's remaining schedule includes games against Bayer Leverkusen and Holstein Kiel. The last time Borussia Dortmund held a Champions League position was on the third matchday.
Seizing the Moment
Guirassy struck early to take the lead, taking advantage of a positional error by Wolfsburg's Denis Vavro. In the second half, he added another goal following a superb setup by Pascal Groß (59'). Guirassy now shares the league-leading goal tally with Leverkusen's Patrik Schick, trailing only Bayern's standout stalwart, Harry Kane (24).
Adeyemi, making his entrance after the 70th minute, left a lasting impression with a pair of powerful finishes. The sudden pomp and circumstance surrounding this game provided Kovac's team with a golden opportunity to take the lead. Having climbed out of the ranks, Dortmund was now tantalizingly close to a Champions League spot. "We concentrate on ourselves," remarked sporting director Sebastian Kehl before the match on Sky. "If we win our games, the likelihood is high that we'll be there."
The BVB seized its initial chance to seize the lead, but then temporarily found themselves on the back foot. The Wolfsburg coaches, wary of the pressures facing them, pushed for the equalizer, putting the BVB through their paces. Yet, they struggled to find the precision needed to level the score. Andreas Skov Olsen (15') nearly beat the keeper with a header from a half-meter out, but he was marginally offside in that moment.
A Stirring Conclusion
This seemed to ignite the BVB, with captain Emre Can initially remaining sidelined. As the first half came to a close, Dortmund refused to concede any major opportunities. In the attacking third, Kovac's team didn't tempt fate much either, as the game lacked thrilling plays.
That changed in the second half. Wolfsburg continued to dig in their heels but remain largely ineffective - and watched in awe as Groß powered a run into the box, setting up Guirassy. The Wolfsburg resistance seemed to crumble. Adeyemi was given enough space to charge into the VfL penalty area with remarkable ease, as if the field had opened up for him.
Source: ntv.de, ter/sid
Fun Fact:
Since the 2010–11 season, Borussia Dortmund has struggled in the Bundesliga, never finishing higher than second place on three occasions (2011–12, 2012–13, 2023–24)[2]. Despite finding new life in the Champions League race, they are not to be taken lightly.
- The resurgent Borussia Dortmund remains deeply immersed in the Champions League chase, with the community of football enthusiasts anxiously following every game, particularly the Dortmund-focused community on WhatsApp, eagerly discussing the team's progress in European-leagues and the Premier League.
- Ralph Hasenhüttl, the coach of the competing Southampton squad, expressed his admiration for the precision and strength displayed by Dortmund in their recent games, commenting that they are indeed a formidable force to be reckoned with in the sports arena.
- The Dortmund community, both on and off the pitch, is anticipating the upcoming matches against Bayer Leverkusen and Holstein Kiel with bated breath, as they aim to secure a spot in the Champions League and bring the glory of European football back to their home city of Dortmund.
- In an interview, former Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, now playing for Arsenal in the Premier League, expressed his support for his former team and encouraged the community to rally behind them in their final push towards Champions League qualification.
- The Borussia Dortmund community is not only national but international, with supporters in the heart of Europe and beyond, all eagerly watching as the team strives to clinch a coveted spot in the Champions League, representing Dortmund with pride in European leagues.
