Be aware: Kovac’s problems always happen in Year 2

Since the famous 2022/23 season, when Borussia Dortmund had the Bundesliga title in their hands but bottled it on the last home game of the season, the Millionaires have not been a title contender. In 2023/24, they finished fifth and last year, they managed to get hold of the fourth place in the last round of the league year. At the start of this season, it’s clear that Bayern Munich is the favorite, but after that everything is open. Frankfurt looks to be ready to battle with Bayer for the second spot, while Leipzig will not threaten anyone this year. So, can Borussia go back in?

Battle for Meisterschale can begin - Bundesliga starts tonight

To the top four – yes. That’s where their place is but to compete for the title again, they need to be much stronger than they are not. There are two factors which prevent Dortmund being in the ‘title contender’ conversations. The first one is the coach. Niko Kovač came in when the situation was dire and steadied the ship, turned it over to the safe harbor and done the job he was supposed to do – the Champions League (and was paid for it generously). But Kovač is also known for his temperament and is not a great psychologist. This will be his second season with the club and his recent coaching record shows that a meltdown usually happens in Year 2 (Bayern, Monaco, Wolfsburg).

Borussia has no healthy defenders and only one signing

The second one are the transfers. Jobe Bellingham from Sunderland remains the only tranfer dealing the BVB had in almost three months, that’s got to be worrying. Jude’s little brother is big signing and Borussia also paid for Couto and Svensson but both players have been in the club during the last season on loan, so they are not new players. Borussia had it’s problems targeting new signings while they sold Jamie Gittens and Soumaila Coulibaly, while Gino Reyna is on the verge of joining Borussia Monchengladbach. Chelsea’s Aaron Anselmino and Carney Chukwuemeka should soon arive to Dortmund, along with Fabio Silva (23/Wolverhampton), but they should have come much earlier. Borussia was dragging the Chukwuemena transfer for far too long, as they wanted another loan, while Chelsea wanted a permanent transfer. Needless to say, the Blues won. They go the transfer and allowed Anselmino to leave on loan. Chukwuemena was already on loan in Dortmund but the other two players will need time to settle in and the season is already starting.

BUNDESLIGA - MATCHDAY 1

Friday

Bayern - RB Leipzig 6-0 (3-0)

/Olise 27, 42, Diaz 32, Kane 64, 74, 78/

Satuday

16.30: (1.73) Eintr.Frankfurt (3.60) Werder (5.00)

16.30: (1.85) Freiburg (3.50) Augsburg (4.40)

16.30: (3.25) Heidenheim (3.50) Wolfsburg (2.30)

16.30: (1.55) Leverkusen (4.50) Hoffenheim (5.50)

16.30: (3.35) Union Berlin (3.50) Stuttgart (2.25)

19.30: (4.60) St.Pauli (3.85) Dortmund (1.75)

Sunday

16.30: (1.90) Mainz (3.75) Koln (4.25)

18.30: (1.87) M' gladbach (3.85) Hamburger (4.00)

***odds are subject to change***