Dortmund to finish 2025 in a second place

It has long since become a commonplace in football: that there is no strict division of roles by team lines, that attackers are the first line of defense, and that play is built from the back. The position of center-backs requires defensive skills as well as footballing intelligence, but few demonstrate this in practice as clearly as Borussia Dortmund’s defenders have this season. Let’s start with what is primary to them. In 15 Bundesliga matches they have conceded 12 goals. Half of those came in two wild 3–3 draws, against Stuttgart and St. Pauli. That means that in the remaining 13 games there were only six concessions in total. Tonight’s match (2–0) was their eighth clean sheet in the league.

And now the other side of the story: their role in attack. In tonight’s victory over namesakes from Monchengladbach, Niklas Süle registered a beautiful assist, delivering a cross to the far post for Julian Brandt that would not have disgraced even Zinedine Zidane in his best days. It was the sixth consecutive league match in which the Millionaires’ center-backs were directly involved in a goal, either as scorers or providers.In order, going back: in the previous round against Freiburg, Bensebaini scored the only goal; before that, Schlotterbeck sealed the win against Hoffenheim; Anselmino gave Dortmund the lead against Leverkusen; against Stuttgart, Emre Can scored, albeit from the penalty spot; and finally, Schlotterbeck assisted Chukwuemeka in the 1–1 draw with Hamburg on November 6.

That’s what shows up in the statistics. What you won’t find there is the number of blocked attempts by the visiting players in tonight’s match. Because—spelled out—zero shots on target until the 80th minute by Borussia Monchengladbach is not a realistic reflection of their attacking involvement this evening. Whenever they did threaten, though—like when Adeyemi was careless in the 36th minute and lost the ball, allowing Neuhaus to surge into the penalty area—Sule slid in; or when Reyna unleashed a long-range effort four minutes later, Schlotterbeck appeared to block the ball and divert it for a corner. Or when Adeyemi had a clear-cut chance denied by Nicolas after Schlotterbeck had launched the move and carried the ball forward for several dozen meters. Or when Can, wearing the captain’s armband, gritted his teeth after an awkward early fall on his shoulder that left him writhing in pain. None of that is recorded anywhere, either.

From statement signing to exit doors - Sule's Dortmund spell ends here

Perhaps Niko Kovač’s team has too often this season managed to spill a full bucket of milk in the closing stages of its matches, but it captivates with the aesthetics of winning. Those who follow them closely will remember the textbook move involving eight players in yellow and black that preceded Julian Brandt’s goal against Hoffenheim just 12 days ago. After that, the brilliant midfielder scored twice in a Champions League match against Bodo/Glimt, and on this evening he again struck what was practically the deciding goal with a beautiful volley in the 10th minute. That scoreline stood literally until the final second of the match, when Maximilian Beier merely confirmed the hosts’ victory.

Borussia Monchengladbach have posted much better results away from home than at home this season, but in the opening match of the 15th round they had their five minutes late in the second half, when they tried to do something more concrete. Their only real chance came in the 80th minute—Moya, just on as a substitute, could have equalized, but Kobel was equal to it. The hosts could have wrapped up a more convincing win earlier. Guirassy scored a goal from an offside position; Adeyemi almost capitalized on a slip by Diks before leaving the field due to excessive nerves; the referee might have reacted after the duel between Elvedi and Beier in the penalty area in the 73rd minute; or Beier squandered a clear chance on the counterattack in the 89th minute. There was not enough time for punishment at the other end—Dortmund confirmed second place, which is where they will welcome in 2026.

BUNDESLIGA - MATCHDAY 15

Friday

Dortmund - M'gladbach 2-0 (1-0)

/Brandt 10, Beier 90+7/

Saturday

17.30: (2.30) Augsburg (3.65) Werder (3.15)

17.30: (2.70) Hamburger (3.35) Eintr.Frankfurt (2.60)

17.30: (2.40) Koln (3.45) Union Berlin (3.15)

17.30: (2.05) Stuttgart (4.00) Hoffenheim (3.45)

17.30: (2.50) Wolfsburg (3.55) Freiburg (2.85)

20.30: (2.15) RB Leipzig (3.50) Leverkusen (3.30)

Sunday

17.30: (2.00) Mainz (3.50) St.Pauli (4.10)

19.30: (17.0) Heidenheim (10.5) Bayern (1.15)

***odds are subject to change***