Borussia Dortmund - Black and Yellow

Preseason 2013



We have built up just the right kind of momentum as the season approaches - and more importantly the DFB SuperCup against Bayern approaches. To be quite honest, and no disrespect meant to our opposition, we did not really face what one would call a 'quality' team - with the obvious exception of Zenit St. Petersburg, which gave me a very pleasant result! We performed well above expectations during this time and we go into this season riding high on confidence! Also, the defensive line looked alarming in the beginning, but now with the addition of Varane - and having the central pair of Varane/Hummels has really stabilised the defense and that is shown in the fact that we only conceded two goals during the preseason and scored 20! These are the kind of games that get you really excited and fired up! Here we come, Bayern!

Best Player of the Preseason

Raphael Varane
Without a doubt. The Frenchman kept our defense rock solid and his partnership with Hummels looks very promising - and it is definitely something that I look forward to seeing more of during the season. Played the opposition strikers off the park, a total delight to watch. This kid is special. I tell you!

Der BVB announce facility improvements

Signal Iduna Park will soon have state of the art facilities - making it one of the very few

The Borussia Dortmund Administration today has officially announced that they have decided to invest upwards of £10.15 million in order to improve the youth and training facilites at Signal Iduna Park. The improvements announced will make the facilities available at Signal Iduna Park 'state of the art'.

The Board have also announced that this was done on request of Der BVB manager Jürgen Klopp
who asked the board to invest for the future and make substantial improvements in the facilites available. These upgrades will now make B V Borussia Dortmund one of the very few clubs in the world to be able to boast of state of the art youth as well as training facilities.

Dortmund President Reinhardt Rauball described it as a proud moment for the fans of the club and said that times ahead would indeed be exciting. He also confirmed on behalf of the management that these improvements will be completed by 8th October next year (8/10/2014).

On the same issue, Mr Jürgen Klopp also expressed his pleasure at the board deciding to make these changes and plauded Mr Reinhardt Rauball as one of the most forward thinking presidents to have graced a football club! He also said that he was lucky to have such a wonderful administration backing him.

Among other news, Bayern Munich and BV Borussia Dortmund go face to face in a weeks' time for the fight to take the DFB Supercup! Show your support for the blue and yellow and turn out on matchday to get behind the team! GO BLACK AND YELLOW!

Dortmund get the better of Bayern


Erik Durm (39)
Henrikh Mkhitaryan (79)
Arjen Robben (1)
Marcel Schmelzer 8.7

B V Borussia Dortmund grabbed their first piece of silverware of the season as they overcame European Champions FC Bayern Munchen two goals to nil in the DFB SuperCup matchup.
Several analysts reacted with curiousity and cynicism to Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp’s decision to use a backline of five people – three central defenders and two wingbacks, however, in the end it was this decision, that played a considerable role in Dortmund coming home with the tie. It was the decision to play two wingbacks, Erik Durm and Marcel Schmelzer, that really caused problems to Bayern Munich as the two wingbacks constantly made attacking runs forward and linked up well with Dortmund’s wingers. Wingback Erik Durm got a spectacular goal as Marcel Schmelzer picked up the Man of the Match award.

Things looked not so promising for Bayern Munich as Dutch winger Arjen Robben suffered a small injury due to Neven Subotic’s challenge in the very first minute of the match.
Dortmund got their first chance in the 26th minute as Erik Durm and Sven Bender’s one-two passing left the defence paralysed for a second – a mistake that allowed him to move the ball swiftly to playmaker Ilkay Gundogan who then rallied it to Nuri Sahin, who played a beautiful pass to Marcel Schmelzer, only for him to blast it wide of goal.

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Schmelzer was vital to Dortmund's performance yesterday as he bagged two assists and the man of the match award

The second attempt Dortmund got was when Javi Martinez tried to play a backpass, only for Nuri Sahin to intercept. The ball then went over from Sahin to Bender to Marco Reus, who found Schmelzer making an overlapping run, setting him up with a backheel. Marcel Schmelzer pummelled in a cross inside the penalty box, and found Erik Durm on the other side, who headed the ball into the back of the net, giving Dortmund the lead in the 39th minute.

Winger Marco Reus came close to scoring in the 50th minute as his freekick was just saved as Manuel Neuer managed to just get to it. Manuel Neuer again saved Bayern the blushes as he did brilliant to save a header off Mat Hummels coming from the resulting corner kick.

Bayern finally had their first chance, coming from a throw in, as Robben threw the ball over to Martinez, who found David Alaba just inside the penalty box, but Alaba could not convert the cross as he blazed past the post in the 52nd minute. His counterpart Dante put one wide as well as he had the chance to convert a cross in the 61st minute.

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Vindication: After falling to Bayern in the UEFA Champions League final last season, Dortmund finally got back at their rivals

Bayern only posed one significant threat to Dortmund, as in the 78th minute, Mario Mandzukic created a perfect ball for Bastian Schweinsteiger, with Weidenfuller doing brilliant to not only deny the German international but hold onto the ball as well.

Schmelzer yet again proved to be the catalyst for Dortmund as he dispossessed Philip Lahm in the 79th minute near the half line, and then put a through ball for Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who made an attacking run through the defence, latched onto the ball, and beat Manuel Neuer in a one on one. This 79th minute goal clearly sealed the fate in favour of Dortmund and its effect could clearly be seen on Bayern.

Dortmund’s defence looked unflappable as the five line defence worked really well for them and they shut out Bayern’s attack completely, only allowing them one shot on target!
Der BVB did not keep the ball for the majority of the match, having just 45 percent possession, but it was their lethal counter attacks that left the Bayern defence completely vulnerable.

Speaking to the press after the match, Jurgen Klopp gave credit to his players, saying that: “I am really proud of the squad. They played the game very well, and gave it their all. This result is totally deserved and they are the ones that made it possible.”

On new signing Varane, Klopp praised the young defender and said “You can see the quality that he possesses even at the age of 20. He played against perhaps the strongest team, the team that won the Champions League, but he was unflappable and made some solid tackles, on Mandzukic and Robben. I can’t wait to see more from him”

On being asked the rather controversial question of how he felt on getting the better of his rival, Joseph Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp evaded it, saying that he “felt that this match was between Dortmund and Bayern, not a matchup of me against Guardiola. I would just like to congratulate the boys and the fans!”

Having started the season with a supercup victory against their rivals, it remains to be seen if Dortmund can again mount a serious title challenge. Rest assured, soccer fans are surely in for a great season of football!