Dortmund - how far can they go?

I have been very impressed by all the German clubs in this seasons Champions League, with Schalke, Bayern and Dortmund all looking good in their respective groups. However it is Dortmund who have stood out for me. Despite being in a group which sees the Champions of England, Spain, Holland and Germany all collide, Dortmund have not been phased and currently lie at the top of their group table. With the German club already bagging an impressive win against Man City, as well as holding off Real Madrid in both ties, the question must be asked: just how far can this fearless German side go?

Dortmunds talented young duo Reus (left) and Gotze (righ
The Dortmund side oozes quality all over the park. Weidenfeller is extremely accomplished in goal, and the back 4 of Schmelzer, Hummells, Subotic and Piszezek are all of a high standard. We've all seen how solid Hummells is at the back, and his composure and talent on the ball is a trait that has particularly caught my eye. However, not just on a defensive front are Dortmund good, but they are also extremely talented in attack. Lewandowski, Blaszczykowski, Gotze and Reus are a quartet that can cause trouble to any side. Lewandowski has all round talent and an eye for goal, Gotze's trickery and playmaking skill can provide numerous opportunities, Reus' speed and versatility is a great asset and Blaszczykowski’s partnership down the right with Piszezek can also cause huge problems.

With a side that contains 3 of Germany's biggest rising talents, Hummells, Gotze and Reus, Dortmund don't just have a high quality side; but a young one as well. With this youth comes a fearless attitude, and they have travelled to two of the worlds most successful clubs, Real Madrid and Ajax, and played without fear and with extreme assurance. They have also played against the champions of England, and embarrassed them with endless waves of attacks and pressure. Despite losing the services of Kagawa, Dortmund haven't rued on his loss and have instead thrived without the Japanese playmaker. With 8 points from 4 games, they are almost a certainty to go through; and based on the talent at their disposal, there is no doubt that they will go even further in the competition.

Dortmund have lit up the Champions League this season,
despite losing the services of Kagawa
But it hasn't all been brilliant for Dortmund this season. In the league, they have struggled to maintain the form that saw them become back to back winners in the Bundesliga, and they have slipped off the pace and are already 11 points behind Bayern in the race for the title. I haven't seen Dortmund in action in the Bundesliga this season, but for me their league form is extremely worrying. If they aren't able to overcome Germany's mediocre sides, how can they possibly maintain their Champions league form against Europe’s elite?

What also suggests that they cannot travel into the later stages in the competition is their lack of experience and unfamiliarity with the later stages of the competition. Despite winning the Champions League title in 1997, they have since been in decline, and haven't come close to even reaching the heights they did then. They only returned to Champions League football last season after a 7 year absence, and didn't even progress through the group stages. With the German side unable to prove themselves in a number of years on a European scale, then it can be argued that it is highly doubtful that they'll get any where near to replicating their memorable run of 1997 and progress to the latter stages of the competition.

There may be success for Dortmund in the Champions League
in the future, but probably not this year

However with Reus, Gotze and Lewandowski heading a star studded attack and having attained 8 points from 4 games, Dortmund must progress through their group with ease. They should have enough quality to win in the last 16, providing they don't get Barcelona, United or Chelsea in the next round, but I very much doubt they'd progress to the last 4. Although I rate the Dortmund team highly, I am doubtful that they have the experience and the capability of being Europe’s very best. Nevertheless they are still the ones to watch in this years campaign, and if they are able to hold onto their youthful squad they may well be crowned Champions of Europe some time in the not too distant future.


 

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