In December the team showed three different faces: their pleasant social one, their ambitious one (in the home games) and, at least on their travels to Bremen and Berlin, their disappointing one.

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Ilkay Gündogan’s header secured a 1-0 win at home over TSG Hoffenheim and a good start for BVB into the month of December. BVB also wrapped up top spot in their Champions League group following a 1-1 draw with RSC Anderlecht (goal by Immobile). In the draw for the last 16 they were paired with Serie A holders Juventus – a tough but navigable draw. In the last home game of the year BVB drew 2-2 with second-placed VfL Wolfsburg in an entertaining match with their goals coming from Aubameyang and Immobile.

All is well that ends well? Not at all! Any hopes of climbing into the middle regions of the table disappeared following two poor performances away to Hertha BSC (2-0 defeat) and Werder Bremen (2-1 defeat). For the first time in 29 years, Borussia Dortmund went into the winter break occupying a relegation spot.

BVB’s triumvirate of Hans-Joachim Watzke, Michael Zorc and Jürgen Klopp tried to find answers for the disappointing first half of the season. “We haven’t done everything right, irrespective of our injuries woes. But things are not going to change by themselves. It will only work if we return to our roots, if we have extremely fit and committed players again to play the kind of successful football we played for years,” said Watzke. Changes to the squad were made, with Dong-Won Ji leaving BVB for Augsburg and Kevin Kampl joining the Black and Yellows from RB Salzburg.

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It’s a firm date in the calendar for years, and on this day in early December the sporting situation took a back seat as BVB visited the Dortmund Children's Hospital with coach Jürgen Klopp handing over a cheque for 15,000 euros from BVB’s “Leuchte auf” foundation. “The donation is an important step for a children’s MRT. BVB are also a great ambassador for our cause to offer medical help through the eyes of children,” said Dr. Dominik Schneider. That BVB are keeping the tradition of visiting the Children’s Hospital alive for years is, so head of the children’s hospital, “particularly for the chronically or seriously ill children, who sometimes spend weeks or months in the hospital, the highlight of the year.”

The same night the players signed autographs for over two and a half hours and finally served behind the bar, another thank you for the fantastic support from the stands in 2014 as around 1,000 delegates descended on Signal Iduna Park to attend the annual Christmas party with representatives of the fan clubs. “The people,” said Jürgen Klopp, “are confident and hopeful, and one day we will realise that this situation has brought the club even closer together.”

Following the biggest donation campaign of the “Leuchte auf“ Foundation to date, BVB fans and employees were able to fulfil the Christmas wishes of 1,600 children from socially deprived families.

On a sad note, BVB mourned the death of Alois Scheffler. The longtime chairman of the council of elders, honorary chairman of this body, honorary member of the club, died at the age of 99. Scheffler, a member of the club since 1928, would have celebrated his 100th birthday on 28 January 2015.