Borussia storm from victory to victory

The first so-called "loss" to speak of in the 2015/16 season is actually the taking of a point with regard to the season's targets, as BVB maintain their 10 point lead over Hertha BSC thanks to a no -score draw against the Berlin men. In the first of six consecutive "English weeks" (German nickname for a week including a midweek round of fixtures), things continue with a trip to Stuttgart for the quarter final of the DFB Cup. The fixture is a cup tie in the classic sense, a battle in which Stuttgart give their all until the end, but in which BVB hold firm, for whom Henrikh Mkhitaryan comes through to decide the game conclusively (3-1). Marco Reus and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang score the other goals prior to Mkhitaryan.

They are made to work for it, but Borussia Dortmund are ultimately victorious on match day 21 to successfully clear the next Bundesliga hurdle. Thomas Tuchel's team defeat Hannover 96 1-0, and in doing so, set a new club record by achieving their ninth victory in ten home matches in the season. Furthermore, having collected 48 points after two thirds of the season played, the team have already surpassed their total for the entire previous campaign (46).

The next stage of the race is completed in Leverkusen. With what is already his 21' goal of the season, Aubameyang earns an away win at the 11th hour after a hard fought match. For the first time since 1982, and for the second time in their history, BVB go on to score three goals during the last ten minutes in the subsequent week's match. And they are urgently required, as up until that point BVB lie 0-1 behind TSG Hoffenheim. Mkhitaryan and Adrian Ramos, though, have other plans, and turn the game around with a goal apiece. Aubameyang puts the cherry on top of an already iced cake with a final goal in extra time. As February draws to a close, BVB have a 15 point lead over third place, but remain 8 points behind those atop the highest tier, namely, Bayern Munich.

Marcel Schmelzer hits only the post (as does Henrikh Mkhitaryan), and so it falls to Lukasz Piszczek and Marco Reus to part the fans from their seats with a goal each. Borussia comfortably win the first leg in the Europa League round of 32, and deservedly so, against FC Porto. Nuri Sahin is able to celebrate his return to action after a 355 day lay off due to injury. "I have really been looking forward to it. I decided today to just drink it all in like a kid and enjoy the Europa League."

A week later and the return leg is won by BVB 1-0 in a similarly comfortable fashion, as they elegantly glide into the round of 16. It remains a point of contention whether the goal is truly Aubameyang's, or if the ball would have found the back of the net without Casillas' contribution. In any case, BVB's 98' goal across all competitions puts them on course for the next round in the middle of the first half. Borussia do indeed have a few hairy moments to withstand after taking the lead in the 23' minute, but ultimately make it through to the next stage of the competition unscathed.

Sven Bender essentially commits himself to BVB for life with an extension to his contract. "I would not have extended for a period of five years if I were not certain that I would spend those five years in Dortmund", makes clear the 26 year old from Upper Bavaria, hailing from Brannenburg in Rosenheim: "The club has given me much, and is very important to me. I have not seen a second BVB to which I could have transferred."

Roman Weidenfeller also remains, if, for the time being, "only" for a further year. "I am happy and grateful to continue to be a part of the new, positive developments at BVB", says the 35 year old goalkeeper, who is in his 14' year of service for BVB. Mikel Merino is the first certain signing for the summer. The 19 year old comes from Spanish second division side CA Osasuna, and starts work on the 1 July 2016: "Borussia Dortmund is one of the top addresses in Europe. I feel honoured to soon be able to play for BVB." The third BVB Fanshop after Oberhausen and Essen outside the city walls opens in Ochtrup. 
Boris Rupert