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Borussia Dortmund: Three reasons for optimism despite Bundesliga title blow

By Brook Genene

Borussia Dortmund head coach Edin Terzic. (Photo by Edith Geuppert - GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)
Borussia Dortmund head coach Edin Terzic. (Photo by Edith Geuppert - GES Sportfoto/Getty Images) /
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Sebastien Haller and Donyell Malen led the way for Borussia Dortmund in the second half of the season
Sebastien Haller and Donyell Malen led the way for Borussia Dortmund in the second half of the season (Photo by Frederic Scheidemann/Getty Images) /

Reliable attacking unit

One of the biggest problems for Borussia Dortmund at the start of the 2022/23 season was replacing Erling Haaland, who joined Manchester City last summer. The Black and Yellows managed to sign Sebastien Haller in what seemed like a smart move. However, Haller was diagnosed with testicular cancer at the start of the season and wasn’t able to feature until the second half of the season.

After winning his battle with cancer, Haller stepped up and played a key role in Borussia Dortmund’s title push. Players who were underwhelming during the hinrunde, like Karim Adeyemi and Donyell Malen, also managed to become key players in attack.

Malen was the joint top scorer for BVB in the Bundesliga this season with nine goals to his name and he also managed to provide six assists. After a poor first season, he showed why the club chose him to replace Jadon Sancho in 2021.

Adeyemi, who was awarded the Bundesliga Rookie of the Season award, was also very crucial to his side’s amazing run in 2023. He initially found it hard to adapt to his new surroundings, but showed his explosiveness and exciting potential in the second half of the season.

dark. Next. Watzke: Borussia Dortmund are capable of winning titles

Borussia Dortmund didn’t have someone who scored 20+ goals this season but all of the attacking players divided the responsibility of scoring and contributed massively to the side’s upturn in form. The understanding they managed to form in the final third was incredible to see, and they will need to replicate that next season if BVB are to challenge for the title again.