The Scout Report: Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund, der BVB, die Schwarzgelben, die Borussen… is probably enough of an Alan McInally introduction given his time with München, in Bayern, with Munich in Germany with Bayern for this article in which case I’ll go on to take a light-hearted look at the history of Rangers upcoming opponents in Scotland, and how they have fared in the 2021/22 season so far.
Regardless of the odds, this Rangers side will relish a chance to take on one of the giants of European football at one of the most iconic stadiums in the World. Unfortunately, due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions in Germany, only 500 tickets have been made available for the away allocation with a vastly reduced home attendance confirmed. Sadly, players and fans alike will not get to experience the full effect of die Gelbe Wand in the stadium’s Süd tribune.
A History
Borussia Dortmund has faced Scottish opposition a total of 16 times in European competition with a favourable record of 6 wins, 4 draws, and 4 losses. However, despite many encounters, the Westfalenstadion remains a fortress. For any pub trivia fans, the only Scottish team to pick up a victory was the National side in their 2-0 win over Zaire in the 1974 World Cup.
Dortmund’s baptism of Scottish football was a 2-1 loss at Ibrox in the 1966/67 Cup Winner’s Cup courtesy of an Alex Smith winner, followed by a 0-0 stalemate in the return fixture.
A similar encounter occurred in the 1982/83 UEFA Cup with Davie Cooper and Derek Johnstone firing Rangers into the second round with a 2-0 victory in Glasgow, after a goalless first leg.
The first of many Scottish Football connections with die Schwarzgelben occurred in the first round of the 1987/88 UEFA Cup with the former Celtic midfielder, Murdo Macleod lining up for the away side at Parkhead.
It took 89 minutes for Derek Whyte to make it 2-1 to Celtic and nil for three in Glasgow for Dortmund. However, BVB would go on to win 2-0 at home and secure a second-round spot.
They returned to the East end in 1992 after a 1-0 result on the continent was compounded with a 1-2 battle at Parkhead giving the Germans their first victory on Scottish soil. A first of many for future Rangers’ stopper, Stefan Klos.
A trip to Fir Park was next on the cards where after finishing 3rd behind Champions Rangers and Runners-Up Aberdeen, the Steelmen were drawn against the Bundesliga runners up in the first round of the 1994/95 UEFA Cup.
This proved to be a fiery affair, where a Motherwell red card would accompany each of Dortmund’s three goals over both legs. In keeping up with the trivia, Paul Lambert featured in claret and amber, before completing his Bosman move to the Bundesliga in summer 1996.
The 1995/96 Champions League would produce a thrilling 2-2 draw both home and away with Rangers coming from behind in each fixture to claim their share of the spoils. Perhaps more impressively in the away leg when a late volley from the industrious Gordon Durie seemed unlikely after Gazza was sent for an early bath.
The UEFA Cup Round of 16 would see Rangers and Dortmund meet for the final time in the 20th century. A Kohler's own goal followed by one of the best goals in Rangers’ European History gave the Gers a 2-0 advantage going into the away tie. Rod Wallace curling the ball past Jens Lehmann after 20 passes and an early display of tiki-taka football.
Unfortunately for the Light Blues, Lehmann would prove crucial in the return leg at the opposite end of the pitch. A stoppage-time corner saw his mishit pass smashed home by Bobic forcing Extra-time and subsequently a penalty shootout.
Rounding off this article’s dose of Pub Quiz knowledge, Father of current Dortmund midfielder Gio Reyna, Claudio was unsuccessful from the spot that night. Current Rangers Boss and namesake Giovanni Van Bronckhorst suffered the same fate. With only future Ger, Christian Nerlinger not hitting the net the home side, giving Dortmund a 3-1 penalty win and their first victory over Rangers.
‘Auf den spuren des verlorenen Henkelpotts’
The 1996/97 Champions League Final saw Dortmund exact revenge for their 1992/93 UEFA Cup Final defeat to Juventus by trouncing them 3-1 at the Olympiastadion in München.
An excellent first half saw centre-forward, Karl-Heinz Riedle getting on the end of both a Lambert cross and a Möller (not Müller) corner before the break as he wrote his name into BVB folklore in his final game for the club.
A 22-year-old Alessandro Del Piero would reply to give the Italians a glimpse of hope before their fate was sealed by a Lars Ricken long-range strike in the 71st minute.
Elation for future adversaries Klos and Lambert and commiserations for Del Piero, Zidane, Deschamps, and future light blues fullback and Squash Champion Sergio Porrini.
This would be the only time Dortmund lifted the European Cup to date and has since been 'on the path of the lost trophy'.
Editor’s note: That was the end of the trivia. Definitely.
What to expect
2021/22 will see Borussia Dortmund on that path for a while longer as inconsistency has encapsulated their season so far, both in Europe and domestically.
Dortmund currently sit 2nd in the Bundesliga, nine points adrift of leaders and Klassiker rivals, Bayern München.
After Sunday’s shock home drubbing 2-5 to Bayer Leverkusen, their margin over their weekend opponents in 3rd has been reduced to just five points.
Despite a perfect start to their opening two games in the Champions League, three straight losses including home and away hammerings from a flawless Ajax side saw Dortmund finish 3rd (albeit on goal difference) behind Sporting CP.
Following their Champions League exit, a shock 2-1 defeat at the Millerntor Stadion in the Deutsche Pokal Round of 16 saw St. Pauli grab the quarter-final spot, and Dortmund’s trophy avenues reduced to two.
It’s fair to say, it has been a horrible six months and the injury list from pre-season has seldom decreased, but in fact, rotated, thus it is difficult to predict accurately how they may line up this coming Thursday.
Regardless of personnel on the night, Rangers can expect an attacking side who likes to control the game, an abundance of pace and some genuine World-class talent. Despite Dortmund’s attacking prowess, defensively they have shown plenty of frailty shipping eleven in Europe so far.
Gregor Kobel will most likely start between the sticks. The £13.5m Swiss international, who arrived in the summer from Stuttgart, has established himself as the number one and has been a mainstay throughout the season.
Kobel seldom comes for crosses and is susceptible to a long shot however is indeed very capable with a one on one and would probably have more than six clean sheets to his name had there not been such a string of defensive injuries.
The 4-2-3-1 formation has been the preference this season for the hosts with the full-back slots expected to be occupied by Thomas Meunier and Raphael Guerreiro on the right and left respectively.
Dortmund rejected a loan move in the dying hours of the January window from Barcelona for the Belgian international’s services. Five assists to his name this season and has rarely missed a match with his left-sided colleague Guerreiro looking to cement his position after a few spells on the sidelines just before the winter break.
The preferred pairing of Hummels and Akanji has maybe not been available as much as coach Marco Rose may have liked. The World Cup winner, and five-time Bundesliga winner Hummels’ experience could prove invaluable to the backline.
Despite a few unrelated minor concerns after returning from knee surgery in December, Akanji should be available to partner with the veteran for the Rangers clash.
With an attacking set of full-backs, and perhaps not the most mobile of centre halves, the high line has been frequently exploited and something I’d imagine an in-form Morelos would look to take advantage of, especially on the counter. All of this coupled with a keeper who rarely comes for a cross, Rangers may also look to exploit the aerial domination exhibited by several of BVB’s European opponents this season.
That said, Dortmund are more than capable of winning the ball further up the park with a suspected defensive midfield pairing of Axel Witsel and Mahmoud Dahoud. Witsel is as solid as ever in his fourth season with the club. As well as providing centre half cover, in his favoured DM position, possesses the ability to hurt teams with a quick, well-placed pass immediately after winning the ball. Dahoud is another player who is no stranger to doing the less attractive jobs that need doing. Missing only in late October with a slight knee injury, like Witsel another long-serving, reliable body in the middle of the park.
This is where the selection becomes more difficult, partly due to injury and partly due to quality in abundance. Either way, I will lock my predictions in as follows.
Jude Bellingham to start. The eighteen-year-old from Birmingham is quickly becoming a favourite of the home support for his aggressive but supremely gifted style of play. Ten assists for the season and capable of playing on either side as well as through the middle is no wonder, he has started all but two games this season.
Julian Brandt has enjoyed somewhat of a resurgence this year under Marco Rose. Another player capable of occupying any of the three positions in the formation, the German had already doubled last season’s total goals and assists, before Christmas.
Marco Reus will complete the trio for me. Approaching now a decade at the club, the fan favourite affectionately known as ‘Woody’ has been enjoying some of the best football of his career over the past few seasons. Largely down to staying injury-free which hampered his early days, the 32-year-old dead-ball specialist has notched up twelve goals and six assists in all competitions for the season so far. First name on the team sheet as it has a (C) next to it as well.
Before going on to the inevitable, having mentioned him earlier I thought I’d give an update on his status.
As much as I’d like to see Gio Reyna make an appearance if at all, it is most likely to be off the bench. Two goals and three assists in five consecutive starts were quickly turning heads at the beginning of the season.
Sadly, a hamstring injury in September whilst on international duty against El Salvador has seen Reyna fail to return to the starting eleven after such an explosive start to his season.
Sunday’s defeat to Leverkusen was his first appearance in five months for the club from the bench for the last half hour, getting some much-needed minutes into his legs. No doubt a bright future lies ahead.
Ja oder Nein? If his recent social media posts are anything to go by, I am confident Erling Haaland will start and will be chomping at the bit to get on the scoresheet.
There’s not a lot to say which hasn’t already been said by anyone with a vested interest in football or which can’t be summarised with the numbers. Twenty-three goals. Twenty Appearances.
With the European Elite all hopeful of becoming the next suitor for the twenty-one-year-old Norwegian, Haaland is unquestionably destined for the top.
Strength, pace, confidence, and an eye for goal none of which have been replicated by Malen or Tigges in his absence. I would be interested to keep an eye on the lineup this Sunday against Union Berlin.
The kind of glamour tie football fans live for and while sadly it will only be a fraction of the atmosphere of previous away encounters, here’s hoping for a close contest to bring back to a packed Ibrox for the return fixture the following week.
Viel Glück Rangers
That was a great read and very enjoyable too and fingers crossed for Thursday
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