The run of success only has a short break: Thomas Tuchel is “proud” of the team that was changed in eight positions and who are partly successful in their second UEFA Europa League group match by drawing 1-1 at PAOK Thessaloniki and is still unbeaten in their 14.competitive match in the current season.

Borussia Dortmund was definitely the team in control playing in this unfamiliar formation, however they conceded a goal from the first and only attack by the Greeks in the first half to make it 0-1 (Mak, 34.). Gonzalo Castro equalised in the 72.minute. Black Yellow then went all out to get the winner, but it was not to be.

Three weeks later the team departed for the longest journey in the history of the club and they landed in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan after a 4 hour 37 minute flight. As always when the team flies to international away games, they spent their time in the ‘flying living room’, an Airbus A321 from Turkish Airlines.

When they won 3-1 away from home at Gabala FK they made a giant step towards qualifying for the knock-out round. Piere-Emerick Aubameyang scored all three goals for Black Yellow, who had to endure a few scary minutes: Matthias Ginter twice prevented the opponents from scoring. But after that the team from the Caspian Sea did not cause any more danger and they only scored their consolation goal in the third minute of time added on.

Back at home in the biggest match of the day away to FC Bayern Munich BVB had to suffer their first (!) defeat in their 15.competitive match of the season 2015/16 by a score of 1-5. Müller (26., 35.) gave Bayern a 2-0 lead, Aubameyang got one back to make it 1-2 (36.). Lewandowski (46., 58.) and Götze (66.) scored in the second half, not leaving BVB any chance.

Then came the international break. Time to catch breath again. But not for the internationals. They are constantly in demand. 14 players went off on international duty after the league game against Bayern. Training was made up of predominantly U23 and U19 players, who played a friendly match away to 1.FC Magdeburg during this time and drew 2-2.

A new successful run starts in Mainz

A run of four matches without a win came to an end in the Bundesliga match against 1.FSV Mainz 05. Marco Reus puts BVB ahead after 18 minutes and BVB had several chances to increase this lead after the break. Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored in the 82.minute to decide the game.

All of Dortmund was now longing for the first game at home after four weeks when BVB faced FC Augsburg. 81 359 expectant fans in the Signal Iduna Park watched how their team overran the Bavarian Swabians. Aubameyang (18.) and Reus (21./33.) scored to make it 3-0 by half time. Bobadilla did score to get one back for FCA (52.), but BVB was in control all along. Aubameyang crowned his performance with two further goals at the end of the game (85./90.+1).

 

Three days later last year’s finalist got through to the last 16 of the DFB Cup in impressive style. Even though the team had to play so many games in such a short period of time and did not have the time to properly regenerate, the team did not hold back from scoring goals and beat SC Paderborn by 7-1. Gonzalo Castro was the match winner in front of 74 605 spectators after the guests surprised everyone by taking the lead through Lakic (21.). The 28 year old Castro scored two goals (30./58.) and also set up the goals for Adrian Ramos (25.) and Shinji Kagawa (43.). Ilkay Gündogan scored the fifth goal from the penalty spot (54.). And finally Lukasz Piszczek (87.) and Henrikh Mkhitaryan (89.) added their goals to round off  the score.

The team won their eighth match on match day eleven of the Bundesliga: a 3-1vistory at Werder Bremen. Reus scored after just 9 minutes. After Ujah equalised (31.), Mkhitaryan (44.) scored with a header to put BVB back in the lead. In the second half Reus took advantage of one of the many BVB chances to make the final score 3-1 (72.).

BVB welcomes the 130 000. member

Sokratis Papastathopoulos extended his contact to June 2019. Sporting Director Zorc said: “we are very happy that we managed to tie one of our key players to the club for the long term.” The player said: “it was crucial that I felt that I was an important part of the team and of course that we have fantastic fans. I am very happy that I will be playing in Black Yellow for many years to come.” However David Wagner, the U23 Head Coach asked for his contract to be terminated. He accepted a new challenge in England, just as Jürgen Klopp did. He is now the new Head Coach of FC Liverpool. Klopp signed a three year contract with the 18 times English Champions and eight time winner of a European trophy.

BV. Borussia 09 e.V. Dortmund grows and grows. Finance Director Andreas Hruschka welcomed the 130 000. club member. BVB is getting ever closer to second placed FC Schalke 04 when it comes to the club with the most members in Germany… Boris Rupert