Champions League: Five reasons why Borussia Dortmund will qualify for the next round
By Pedro Rivera
The new season of the UEFA Champions League is upon us and Borussia Dortmund will be aiming to make a deep run in the competition.
The Black and Yellow start today a new chapter in the history of the German club at the most prestigious tournament in Europe, the UEFA Champions League in their visit Belgium to face Club Brugge. Here are the reasons why Borussia Dortmund will make it out of the group stage and into the round of 16.
Borussia Dortmund look like a different team after their summer overhaul
The summer was a very busy one for the German Club. Several new players were brought in to bolster the squad this summer, with the aim to avoid a repeat of last season. And now Borussia Dortmund have the perfect balance of youth and experience to help them make a bigger impact in Europe’s premier club competition.
The new signings seem to have settled in quickly and the likes of Axel Witsel and Thomas Delaney have already taken up leadership roles on the pitch. While Abdou Diallo has given Dortmund some much needed defensive steel. Paco Alcacer’s goals and all round play will be crucial for this team. And Marius Wolf’s workrate and versatility make him Dortmund’s wild card.
The importance of key players in the team
This reason is directly linked to the one mentioned before, Borussia Dortmund now have players who can be vital in the game plan visualized by the coach Lucien Favre and can take the team to the next level. New signings Axel Witsel and Thomas Delaney have added their imposing presence and discipline to the team. Their leadership and ability to dominate games from the middle of the park will be crucial for Dortmund in the competition. In Manuel Akanji and Abdou Diallo, Borussia Dortmund now finally have a solid defensive duo.
In attack, Dortmund have some of Europe’s most talented players. Dortmund’s two highly rated wingers Jadon Sancho and Christian Pulisic will be determined to make their mark in the Champions League this season. New signing Paco Alcacer’s goals and all round ability will also be key for the Black and Yellows.
But the most important player for Dortmund is arguably Marco Reus. The club captain missed last season’s Champions League games through injury and he will be hoping to lead his side into the knockout rounds this time around. Reus is a game changer and if he can stay healthy the chances for Borussia Dortmund going into the next round increase exponentially.