Tired of Titles: BVB Struggles in Bundesliga Title Race
More hope than belief, more questions than answers - after the 1:1 in the thrilling top clash at Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund's passion was overshadowed by disappointment.
Creeping realization is taking hold that the Bundesliga title fight might unfold without BVB this season. Twenty-two shots on target, sixteen corners, and sixty-two percent possession in favor of the Bundesliga leaders from the Rhine only underscored their immense inferiority. BVB's defensive tactics, known for their attacking aggression, left Leverkusen's players astonished. "I've never seen Dortmund play like this before. Everyone was playing behind the ball," commented Leverkusen's goalscorer, Patrik Schick.
BVB, already ten points behind, could have sealed their fate in the top game. Yet, they held true to their DNA, defending with commitment and quality, but failing to leave a mark in offense. Even when Leverkusen alleviated some pressure in the second half, Bayer keeper Lukas Hradecky remained mostly untroubled.
Leading scorer Granit Xhaka voiced an ironic remark: "We only gave them a glimmer of hope for a moment to make them believe they could push harder. But then, nothing happened."
No Mercies Given: Terzic Defends Defensive Approach
Edin Terzic's approach nearly paid off - the game followed the plan until Victor Boniface's late equalizer (79'). "Leverkusen is still undefeated, which bothers me the most today," said the BVB coach after the draw. Terzic defended his team's strategy: "We aimed to ensure that the number of goals scored didn't dictate the outcome, but rather, that we didn't concede a barrage of goals. We wanted to ensure that one or two goals would be enough to snatch something."
However, Terzic's hope for offensive relief through counter-attacks didn't materialize. "We didn't show the guts to retain possession, perhaps wage a daring one-on-one battle. There were plenty of aspects that appeared frightening," admitted international Julian Brandt with a sigh. "Leverkusen deserved the win more than us."
Terzic, nonetheless, remains confident that they can bridge the substantial gap to the remarkably stable leaders. "There's a massive gap, true. But there's still so much left to come for both BVB and Leverkusen," said Terzic with a nod to the upcoming Africa Cup, in which Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso will have to let go of five key players, including Boniface, Kossounou, and Tapsoba.
Up Next: Conquering Stuttgart
Borussia Dortmund faces their third significant away challenge in a week after Milan (3:1) and Leverkusen. Failure to win the cup tie at VfB Stuttgart (8.45 p.m.) might seal yet another season without a national title. The dismal performance in the Bundesliga match at the same venue in mid-November doesn't bode well. Captain Emre Can vows to make amends: "We aim to display a different image than we did in Stuttgart last time."
Insight into the Current Standings
As of February 14, 2025, Borussia Dortmund ranks 11th in the Bundesliga table with 29 points from 21 matches, having bagged eight victories, five draws, and eight losses. With a goal difference of one (thirty-seven goals for, thirty-six against), Dortmund encounters challenges in their bid for the championship.
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