It’s all but official: Borussia Dortmund’s 2025/26 season will end without a trophy. After failing to pass muster in the UCL against Atalanta, Niko Kovac’s men came into the all important Der Klassiker needing three points to keep any Bundesliga hopes alive. Instead, Dortmund find themselves 11 points behind a dominant Bayern Munich side with 10 games left in their Bundesliga campaign. This Topspiel had everything from red card reviews to flying volley kicks so let’s jump into it.
Bayern’s massive
+64 goal difference before this match indicated that Dortmund came into this as the underdogs and looked the part in the opening stages. The Bavarians dominated possession and littered Gregor Kobel’s goal with shots in the opening 25 minutes. Dortmund’s biggest worry came in the 18th minute when Nico Schlotterbeck’s crunching tackle sent Josip Stanisic reeling in pain. Fortunately for Dortmund, the referee awarded just a yellow card following a lengthy VAR check despite ‘Arry Kane’s protests. Schlotterbeck made amends just 7 minutes later when he buried set-piece header. Pure jubilation shot across the stadium as Schlotte’ jumped into the crowd and flexed his muscles. It was Dortmund’s only shot on target in the entire half and the game quickly devolved into madness as both sets of players opted to feign injuries instead of play football. The one exception was Emre Can who, after going down three times, had to be helped off the field in the dying minutes of the first half. It was hard to watch. The club captain was practically in tears as the Sudtribune chanted his name off the field for, depending on his injury, could be the final time.
The second half was a much different tempo. The field opened up for both teams and Dortmund were making inroads. Both Karim Adeyemi and Daniel Svensson created opportunities for themselves but took one touch to many. Bayern Munich then took possession and sliced through Dortmund’s defense. Both Anton and Schlotterbeck stepped up to win possession from Joshua Kimich after the ball pinged around Dortmund’s box. Al the defenders could do was watch as Kimmich chipped the ball into Serg Gnabry who headed the ball into Harry Kane’s path. The English forward volleyed the ball with ease and the match was level.
Maxi Beier, Fabio Silva, and Adeyemi combined in Dortmund’s best attacking play of the match but Beier failed to convert the opportunity. The inclusion of those three in the starting lineup was a surprise and rarely clicked throughout the match. Serhou Guirassy entered the match for Fabio Silva shortly after but his offensive contingent looked out of gas. On the other side of the field, Schlotterbeck continued his involved performance and conceded a penalty in the 70th minute. Yes, it was somewhat soft but it was also overzealous and rash from the man wearing the captain armband. Harry Kane converted and Bayern were up two to one.
The game opened up after Dortmund made a slew of substititons and I was sent into a cathartic state when Daniel Svensson buried an incredible volley in the 83rd minute. It wasn’t the prettiest volley on in Bundesliga history but Svensson managed to curve the ball away from Bayern’s keeper while midair. Dortmund almost seized the advantage in the 85th minute but Serhou Guirassy sent the ball wide with his lone shot in the match. Kimmich returned to ruin my weekend in the 87th minute as he slammed a left-footed volley into the side of the goal to put Bayern Munich back on top. A pair of the world’s worst set-piece routines saw the game fizzle out for the hosts and Dortmund now find themselves an insurmountable 11 points behind Bayern Munich.
Want to be in a bad mood? Check the 22 minute long highlights out here:
And want my frustrated reactions? Keep on reading!
The Nico Schlotterbeck Conundrum
This game played out much like Nico Schlotterbeck’s last 12 months; he was the center of the action. On the positive side he; scored a goal, reminded us all why the fans love him, and dawned the captain’s armband after Emre Can’s injury. On the other hand he; made two obscenely reckless challenges, conceded a penalty, and failed to stamp his defensive talent on this match.On his day, he is Dortmund’s best player and a difference maker across the field. On an off day, he is a liability in all regards. Now he and the club are at a crossroads. Dortmund’s competitive season effectively ended today and both parties have to decide the next steps. Will Schlotterbeck re-sign with Dortmund and cement himself as the club’s captain? What version of Schlotterbeck will we get if he stays? How will Dortmund fill the gap left by him if he goes?
It’s impossible to answer and now I’m becoming worried about the power broker in charge of that decision.
A Talent Advantage Makes the Difference
I’m not going to waste your time whinging about referee decisions (I have no issues with this match) or the gross difference between Bayern Munich’s resources and Dortmund’s resources. Instead, I’ve decided to remind myself of a time when a stupendously naive Patrick Morrison was excited about Sebastian Kehl. Fortunately, I wasn’t alone but it’s clear that something is not working in Dortmund’s squad building. The team’s roster looked so astonishingly poor compared to Bayern’s talent pool.
Dortmund once again leave a Bundesliga game with only two fit senior center-backs and exposed with their one-dimensional attackers. The club has spent three seasons plagued by injury in defense and the club’s solution was a center-back with a no-fee return clause. I am a staunch believer in the Jobe and Chukwuemeka projects but it’s impossible to justify spending $60 million on midfielders when Dortmund’s roster is so weak across the field. Karim Adeyemi and Maxi Beier both did well to use their physicality but they lack the expertise to challenge a defense as strong as Bayern’s. Dortmund’s attacking triumvirate managed one off-target shot between them – pathetic.
We’ve seen Niko Kovac coach attacking and winning football in the past. The club cannot change coaches for the fourth time in five years and hope things solve themselves. They must build a squad that can challenge for trophies and that process starts at the top.
Borussia Dortmund Continues to Deliver
I hate talking to sports fans and hearing how their team deserve to win trophies because of pedigree, philosophy, or some other birthright. As Emre Can led the players onto the field today, the Sudtribune was in full roar. Lit by pyrotechnics and displaying a massive tifo in support of their club, Dortmund fans made me a hypocrite. Those fans deserve something. Not schmucks like me sitting on the couch watching the match 3776 miles but the fans who have woven themselves into the club’s history. It’s the fans who helped the club become one of the meccas of football culture. It’s also the reason why schmucks like me were drawn to this team; because the culture delivers.
I honestly don’t know if Dortmund will win something meaningful within my lifetime. If they play like today forever then they certainty won’t deserve to. What I do know, however, is that if the club can deliver in the same way the fans do, then maybe they do deserve to win something.
