Borussia Dortmund are looking back to their brilliant best, and that can only mean positive things for German football. There hasn’t been a Bundesliga title race in recent years, but more of a Bundesliga title procession – Bayern Munich have been streets ahead of their domestic rivals. That could all be about to change.
RB Leipzig gave a decent account of themselves last season, but Dortmund are better suited to challenging Bayern’s supremacy at the top of the table. Former manager Thomas Tuchel has departed, but Peter Bosz has already shown that he is capable of leading Dortmund back to the summit of the Bundesliga – they have responded well at the start of the campaign.
At Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund have been ruthless and performing well on home soil is an absolute must. The German giants are usually rock-solid in front of their passionate fans, and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Dortmund go unbeaten at home this season. That may be a bold statement, but Bosz’s side have the quality to do just that.
Wolfsburg 0-3 Borussia Dortmund FT:
Goals from Pulisic, Bartra and Aubameyang secure the perfect start for Peter Bosz. pic.twitter.com/OQZJeDLlJj
— Squawka News (@SquawkaNews) August 19, 2017
It looked like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was set to leave Dortmund this summer, but the Gabon striker has returned for the time being. Aubameyang’s quality is evident for all to see; he scored 42 goals in 51 appearances for club and country last season, and he has continued where he left off at the start of this term, notching six goals in just four outings – including a hat-trick in the German Cup.
Dortmund are currently joint top of the Bundesliga table, and early momentum could be key in the title race. Putting Bayern under pressure as early as possible is important, and Carlo Ancelotti’s men will know that they are in for a genuine battle this time around. At the time of writing, Dortmund are 13/2 in the Bundesliga betting odds, and plenty of punters will fancy Bosz’s men to defy the odds.
That in itself is a bold statement, but Dortmund’s new-found competitiveness shows how far the eight-time German champions have come since lifting the Bundesliga title in 2012. On a player by player basis, Dortmund may struggle to cope with Bayern, but in terms of spirit and endeavour, Bosz’s side can match the Bundesliga champions at the very least.
Defensively, Dortmund aren’t quite as strong as they were four or five years ago but there is no longer a requirement to batten up the hatches. With so much attacking talent at their disposal, it makes more sense for Bosz to give his striking stars the green light to attack and attack aggressively. German football is no longer purely about a solid back four.
They will need plenty of luck, but the Bundesliga title is there to be won this season – it is no longer Bayern Munich’s crown to lose. The Bavarians are still the team to beat, but Borussia Dortmund can rightfully earn their place at the summit of German football.
