Overthrowing an Empire: One Yellow Wall at a time.

Still cruising away at the top of the table mate, and only ten games to go, you're looking more and more likely!

A stunning 100% March sees Dortmund pull away from Munich

Joshua Bean has spoken of the positive atmosphere in the changing room after every victory and even went as far as to describe after the shock loss against Augsburg, that they were the happiest losers he had ever seen.

Evidently it was that morale that was providing months such as the one of March, which saw yet another stunning performance all round.

Dortmund VS BMG 4-2

Arguably the best player in Europe on current form alone, Aubameyang had been unstoppable in front of goal every single game he has featured in.
With the fans nervous against their local rivals it was key that players of his ability and class performed and the 26, year old, striker did that without a doubt.



He scored a 27 minute brace in the first half to take the game away from BMG, the away side did strike back on the stroke of half time but a Julian Weigl goal and a 75th minute goal was enough to secure victory, despite BMG scoring in the last minute.

Aubameyang’s opening goal came from the spot, after he was ‘tackled’ (dived) inside the area, following slight coming together from a corner. His second was equally as suspect, with him appearing to be in an offside position he swept in from a Marco Reus shot that was going wide.
Weigl scored a thunderous volley from the edge of the D, thanks to a planned corner routine.

Finally, Mkhitaryan, secured the win with Dortmund’s fourth of the game. Reus skinned his man for pace and drilled the ball towards the back post, where the Armenian was awaiting to tap home.

Basel VS Dortmund 1-3

A game which saw two red cards, one a piece, still saw the visiting side come home with a solid aggregate lead thanks to a stunning performance from German international, Marco Reus.

A 30 yard free-kick would be daunting for most players, but after just nine minutes Reus stood over the dead ball, measured out his run up and the ball flew into the top corner leaving the keeper stranded helpless.

With Basel being reduced to 10 men after 41 minutes, it took Rues just two minutes to expose the space and he was able to turn his man inside out, with the support of others, and coolly slotted it past a despairing keeper.

However Schmelzer was sent off for a second yellow offence early into the second half and Basel pulled one back from the penalty spot.
But substitute Adrian Ramos confirmed the win after 82 minutes, after he was able to get a toe onto the end of a fizzing Reus cross, turning the ball home.

Hamburg VS Dortmund 0-2

For the first time in his short career, Bean caused the sacking of an opposition manager. The 2-0 victory saw Hamburg part ways with their man, with just several months left in the season.

It wasn’t an overly dominant performance from Dortmund, in fact the defence was tested on multiple occasions. But two goals in three minutes, from Julian Weigl and Marco Reus respectively, ended the game after just 35 minutes.

The young central midfielder who has been having nothing short of an exceptional year, headed home courtesy of an Aubameyang chipped pass. The youngster was beaming ear to ear as he continued to push his side towards a surprising title bid.

Reus continued his fine form from earlier in the week, scoring a tap in at the near post, after the Hamburg keeper hesitated and only half left his line, leaving an easy tap in for the winger.

Dortmund VS Basel 1-0

A completely rotated starting XI started the game for Dortmund, as they were in their eyes, certain to go through.

With both teams fully aware that the result was already sorted, it was heading towards being a very bore draw. However defender Subotic was able to put his name on the score sheet, rising above everyone on the pitch from a corner and heading home.

Dortmund VS Koln 3-0

Yet another emphatic victory, made it 100% for Dortmund this month. But the game was marred by the serious injuries to Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan.

Bean said after the game that he was “Disgusted by the challenges” and that “They (Koln) set out to hurt my players, knowing full well they couldn’t compete with them.”

The game was going so well, when Reus opened the scoring after half time, from the penalty spot. Left back, Park Joo Ho, scored a rare goal himself. It was a rather lucky goal even ‘Hernandez-esque’ from his Community Shield goal against Chelsea in 2013. Park found himself in acres of space, a drilled cross by Mkhitaryan found the fullback, who somehow managed to chip the
ball onto his head and then he kneed it home from point blank range.

Before he was carried off injured, Aubameyang was able to get on the score sheet with a delightful curling effort from the edge of the area.

Managers assessment

There is not much to say as this months results speak for themselves. I am gutted to lose Mkhitaryan and Aubameyang in the home straight of the season, but hopefully the likes of Reus and Kagawa can be enough of a threat going forward!

[b@]Griffen We are soaring now mate, I have high hopes!

@Jack Thanks a lot bro! Glad to see my players performing so well

@Ninja Thanks a lot, means a lot you are excited for the return bro!

Dortmund rocked by Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan injuries

With the title in sight and the Europa League and German Cup still a possibility, the last thing Joshua Bean wanted was two key players being out for an extended period of time with injuries.

But sadly for him that is indeed the case.

Leading goal scorer Aubameyang is out for six weeks with a pulled hamstring, meaning that he has to choose between natural striker Adrian Ramos, or winger Marco Reus to be the lone striker.

Alongside this injury, Armenian winger Mkhitaryan is out for three months with a broken ankle.

While it is a bad injury and Bean will be understandably upset as the Armenian is one of his sides key players, he can easily replace him with Japanese international Shinji Kagawa who would be playing in any other side in his current form, if it wasn't for the sensational recent performances of Mkhitaryan.

The home finishing line is in sight, but without two of their key players it will be interesting to see how Dortmund cope.

Let's hope your squad can perform without some star men

Three months and six weeks Football is a cruel game!

Not good not good at all, key players are out! However you have more than a good enough squad to cope without them!

@Soze Hopefully so! I have more than enough faith

@Jack Just when things were going so well as well!

@mgriffin2012 Agreed! It will be harder to replace Aubameyang and his goals though

Two big big injuries, it'll be difficult to fill the void left by these players!

Dortmund’s injuries see them struggle for the first half of the month

While the German league leaders still had a more than realistic chance to secure the league title, Europa League and German Cup, the injuries to Mkhitaryan and Aubameyang cost them a chance at the treble and also brought Bayern Munich back into the title race ever so slightly.

Schalke VS Dortmund 3-3

In one of the fiercest rivalries in Germany, Dortmund travelled to Schalke knowing that Munich had won the day before, bringing the point’s difference to just three.

It was a six goal and five of them were scored in the opening half an hour of the game. Talisman Klass-Jan Huntelaar opened the scoring after just 44 seconds, heading home at the far post following a corner.

Dortmund took just two and a half minutes to reply with Julian Weigl tapping into an empty net, following a superb ball from Shinji Kagawa. Bean was animated on the touchline as the goal went in, ordering his players to keep calm.

Instead under 10 minutes later, Huntelaar was found on the edge of the area and the target man was able to knock the ball away from a sliding Hummels and smash the ball into the top right corner, to the ecstasy of the crowd.

In all reality, Schalke should have had two or three more goals by the time Weigl brought the scores level once more. The 20 year old central midfield, peeled off his marker allowing Reus to drill a cross into him. The ball was slightly behind him, forcing the most acrobatic of scissor kicks from the youngster and boy oh boy did he connect. The ball flew into the net, with the keeper unable to even react let alone stop it.

However a dubious penalty just two minutes later allowed Schalke to regain the lead and Huntelaar to score a 30 minute hat-trick.

Dortmund were being battered for the entire second half, the ball was cleared of the line on multiple occasions and they arguably should have been facing yet another penalty. But with 12 minutes remaining, Kagawa broke away following a corner he looked up and threaded in German winger Marco Reus.

The international rounded the keeper and struck home what turned out to be the equalising goal.

Dortmund VS Besiktas 0-1 and Beskitas VS Dortmund 4-0

The first home defeat of Joshua Beans’ career and it came at arguably the worst possible time. A Europa League quarter-final.
Beskitas player, Everton scored the only goal of the first leg, a deflected shot from outside the area looping over a defenceless goalkeeper.

But worse was to come, the second leg saw Bean play a slightly rotated side to keep them fit for the First Division run in. Even with this side, the 4-0 drumming that his side suffered was labelled “the most humiliating moment of my life” by the manager.

Dortmund had 20 shots to Besiktas’s 13, but it was the Turkish side who were clinical on the night. Three goals in quick succession, on either side of the halves, ended the game as a tie and Mario Gomez scored the fifth of the tie, to rub salt well and truly into the wound.

Dortmund VS Wolfsburg 2-1

Three goals and two red cards made certain that the neutrals very much enjoyed this fiery affair.

A mistake by the visiting sides’ keeper, saw Adrian Rmaos take a tumble in the area and the official had no hesitation in pointing towards the spot. Marco Reus who before the game had urged his teammates to regain momentum in arguably the most damaging month of their title race so far, made no mistake slotting the ball down the middle of the goal.

Just minutes later however, Max Kruse headed at the back post, following a bullet of a cross from the flanks. Kruse was able to outmuscle Fernandes at the far post to nod home.

With the home fans get increasingly nervous and Joshua Bean pacing up and down the side line, Japanese international and fan favourite Shinji Kagawa latched on to a long punt by Hummels which bounced over everyone. Wolfsburgs keeper was found in no mans land and Kagawa poked it past him to win the game late on.

Frankfurt VS Dortmund 1-3

With Bayern Munich on an immense run of form, winning game after game after game. Dortmund travelled to Frankfurt knowing that if they just keep their heads down and pick up the three points, the title is potentially only two games away.

Playmaking midfielder Gundogan scored yet again this season, to open up the scoring. A Marco Reus shot forced a fine save but the rebound bounced kindly for the midfielder and he was able to pass it into the net.

A simple goal with massive implications.
Going into the half just 1-0 up was nerving for all involved but it took Reus 47 seconds to score in the second half. The winger took on his fullback, leaving the man for dead and then cut inside, finally curling the ball into the far corner of the net.

Frankfurt were far from out of this game when Carlos Zambrano scored a deflected effort from outside the area, looping over everybody, striking the post and rolling in. It seemed to everyone in the stadium that Dortmund were going to do it the hard way yet again.

But with 20 minutes left to go, former Hertha Berlin striker Adrian Ramos, scored a sublime finish. A first time curling effort into the far corner, to make the game 3-1 and secure a huge win.

Dortmund VS BMG: German Cup Semi-Final 1-0

A nervous affair from start to finish. The minute it was announced that these two sides would face each other in the semi-finals, the fans flooded social media sites and radio call ins with their passionate claims on why their side will be advancing to the final.

As it turned out, as the country expected, Dortmund had enough about them to just about see off their local rivals.

Despite BMG hitting the woodwork twice in the opening 20 minutes, it was the hero from several weeks ago, Shinji Kagawa, who opened the scoring. The winger came short to collect the ball off of Weigl, turned his man and laid the ball off to Reus. The German international had drifted off his wing to collect the ball, he then lobbed a pass over the defenders for Kagawa who then lobbed it over an on surging goalkeeper.

It will go down as one of the greatest goals in Dortmund history and not just because of its importance.

Dortmund tried to keep their attacking intent but they were pushed back consistently and when the final whistle blew a look of relief washed over their players faces.

Dortmund VS Hertha Berlin 3-0

Dortmund knew coming into this game. Win this game and they are one win away from the title, no matter what Munich do.

On his first game back since injury, start striker Aubameyang scored inside 20 minutes. Weigl played a casual one-two with Gundogan, looked up and picked out the speedy striker in his stride. The striker made no mistake on his return and he slotted it past the keeper.

15 minutes later centre back Papastathopoulos scored only his third goal of the season, this being a thunderous header that ricocheted off the underside of the bar and into the back of the net.

Just on the stroke of half time Gundogan ended the game, scoring a screamer from 25 yards, into the bottom right corner, to secure the win and potentially the title.

Managers assessment

The brutal 5-0 aggregate loss in the Europa league was a very bitter pill to swallow. The 3-3 draw with Schalke was infuriating because every time we drew level, they went up the other end and scored and nearly did so again to make it 4-3.

But as a whole the month sees us progress to the German Cup final and a large step closer to the title.

@Justice: Agreed mate, the month was tough without, thankfully we are towards the end of the season now!

That Europa League tie However you can take away the fact that you're leading the way in the league this month with a game in hand!

Ahhhh man that Europa League defeat is heartbreaking!

@Jack Yeah I dunno how to discuss that Europa league result But close to the title and in the final of the German Cup so all is good!

@mgriffen2012 I am still crying now mate

*for the remaining few games will be doing game by game updates as I canw in the league at any point etc enjoy*