Borussia Dortmund - Black and Yellow

Monthly Review - December 2013

DFB Pokal Third Round

BVB
Sahin (pen 23)
Marco Reus (43)
Mkhitaryan (pen 59)
Piszczek (88)

HSV
Westermann (7)
Zoua (41)

Marco Reus (8.3)

Bundesliga

BVB
Mkhitaryan (87, 90+2)
Schmelzer sent off (67)

Mkhitaryan (9.1)

UEFA Champions League Group H

BVB
Marco Reus (37, 88)
Hummels (40)
Nuri Sahin (77)

SLB
Oscar Cardozo (70)

Marco Reus (9.4)

Bundesliga

BVB
Mkhitaryan (76)

Braunschweig
Domi Kumbela (21)

Mkhitaryan (7.5)

Bundesliga

Hoffenheim
Elyounoussi (14)

BVB
Subotic sent off (80)

David Abraham (8.7)




On the month...
This is it. This is where our 'fabulous' run of undefeated results stops. Quite honestly, we had it coming. We were not really playing the best of our games recently, and we had begun to have some issues at the end of the year. Also, the multiple suspensions had their effect as well. However, one positive out of this is the fact that the team is now relieved of being tagged as 'undefeated' and can now play their natural game. Not a good way at all to end a year that had been so good for us, but I am sure that we can bounce back in the new year - starting with the friendlies in France!

Yearly Awards

Ballon d'Or
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Lionel Messi won his fifth Ballon d'Or as his inspired performances for FC Barcelona caught the attention of everyone. Messi has been in great form for Barcelona this season, and has made 19 goals and 9 assists this season. Messi was the fan favorite and was hotly tipped to win the prestigious award, and it comes as no surprise that he won the award by quite a comfortable margin.

Real Madrid's iconic winger Cristiano Ronaldo stood second in the Ballon d'Or voting process, having made the invaluable contribution of 19 goals and four assists for the Los Blancos.

The player to garner the third place for Ballon d'Or was a surprise inclusion, as 24 year old Marco Reus came third in the voting, although quite some distance off both Messi and Ronaldo. Reus has been a revelation for Borussia Dortmund, having made 14 goals and 17 assists for Der BVB this season.


World Player of the Year
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Messi completed his swoop of the awards by also clinching the FIFA World Player of the Year award this season, fending off competition from the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo (who secured the second place) and Barcelona teammate Xavi (third placed).


European Golden Boy
Philippe Coutinho walked home with the European Golden Boy award, having fended off the competition from the likes of Neymar and Varane among others, and has thus far put a splendid performance for Liverpool, making six assists and three goals in 12 appearances for the club



World Team of the Year

The World Team of the Year was something that was quite different from what was predicted by many soccer pundits at the start of this season. Barcelona are the most represented team, having a total of 7 players selected in the World Team of the Year, which includes four starters and three substitutes. Real Madrid are second in this aspect having four starters and one substitute making a total of five players on the Dream Team. The surprise inclusion are Borussia Dortmund who have three players (two in starting eleven and one sub) on the dream team, being the only club apart from the Spanish duo of Barcelona and Madrid to have multiple players on the Team of the Year.

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Champions League Round of 16 Draw

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UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Fixtures

Who are Dortmund targeting this season?

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Will Dortmund be willing to shell out £30 million for the Gladbach shot stopper?

Among the spate of transfer rumors that have flooded this transfer window, there seems to be a fair bit of speculation about activity by Der BVB. After reportedly being given a £16.5 million transfer kitty by the club, manager Jürgen Klopp has been looking at potential targets that he could possibly acquire this season. While it is no secret that Dortmund have been on the lookout for a potential successor to Roman Weidenfeller between the sticks, there is however one surprise inclusion in Klopp's wishlist, if rumors are to be believed.

Marc-André ter Stegen seems to head the German manager's list. Having declared his intent to join Dortmund in the summer window when news of Klopp chasing him first broke out, ter Stegen could have his wish fulfilled this time around. However, any chances are still quite some way off, as a Goal.com source tells us that Gladbach have declared that they have no intention of selling their Number 1 for less than £30 million - an evaluation that Klopp is reluctant to meet.

Leverkusen's 21 year old goalkeeper Bernd Leno is also believed to be on Klopp's list of potential targets. Sources suggest that the Leverkusen man is rated highly, and being a German is all the more better.

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Leverkusen's Bernd Leno in action during a Group A Champions League match

Arsenal's 23 year old Wojciech Szcz?sny is also one of the potential replacements - and an alternative if Klopp cannot secure the services of either ter Stegen or Leno, however, rumour has it that Arsenal do not wish to part with him since they consider him an integral part of the team and one of the core members of the squad. Only time will tell if Wenger will decide to part with him for a hefty fee.

Maxym Koval from Dynamo Kyiv is the surprise inclusion. Recently, Dortmund's scouts have been seen tracking his progress and performances in the Ukranian League and some of his performances have impressed them, and he comes highly rated from BVB Scouts.

It is still tough to say which of these four, if any, would join Signal Iduna Park, with the 'race' all but wide open.
You tell us, who would you like to see in the Black and Yellow? Drop your comments below!

January 2014 Review

France Friendly Results


Bundesliga


Bundesliga

BVB

Subotic (45)
Schmelzer (59)

Hannover 96
Didier Ya Konan (79)

Two signings confirmed!

Dortmund are delighted to confirm two signings this transfer window.

The first player that will join Signal Iduna Park on a permanent basis is Turkish midfielder Nuri Sahin. Sahin who had joined Spanish giants Real Madrid from Dortmund in 2010-11 on a £8 million deal, has had very successful loan spells at Signal Iduna Park, and his performances convinced manager Klopp to finally bring him back to the Black and Yellows for a sum of £5 million on a £80,000 a week five year deal (with a three year club opted contract extension)



The second player that will join Dortmund is famed Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes who joins the club on a free transfer on a £120,000 a week deal that will last three years. He and Weidenfeller will be an incredible defense protecting the goal.

We wish both the players the best of luck at Signal Iduna Park!
Heja BVB!