BVB editors Nico Lankau, Kevin Mattes, Katharina Küpper and Lukas Rauer (from left to right) have given a season forecast. © TH/Kirchner-Media; RUHR24; Collage: RUHR24
There have been a lot of changes in personnel at BVB since the Champions League final. What does that mean for the title ambitions? The RUHR24 forecast.
Dortmund – fifth in the Bundesliga and finalist in the Champions League – that’s how the 2023/24 season ended for BVB. In the 2024/25 season, Borussia Dortmund wants to bring consistency to the club and win titles. To achieve this, the Black and Yellows made a number of changes during the summer break: departures, new arrivals and a new coach on the sidelines. Is that enough?
BVB is in line for a title – but not in the Bundesliga
BVB sports director Lars Ricken announced at the training camp in Bad Ragaz that titles are to be won again: “At the end of the season, we naturally want to go home with a title. We were close to it twice – with the championship, with the Champions League – and now we obviously want to take the next step,” he said when asked by RUHR24.
Coach Nuri Sahin was more defensive and didn’t want to promise anything. One thing is certain: a lot has happened at Borussia Dortmund. The cards have been reshuffled. The BVB editorial team at RUHR24 gives their tips on how the season will go.
BVB season forecast: Nuri Sahin takes command
Katharina Küpper: There is a spirit of optimism at Borsigplatz. Nuri Sahin is a new man on the command bridge who is expected to use his tactical skills to build an ambitious team. Sahin – the fine footballer, best player of the 2010/11 season – is now also expected to be the one on the coaching bench who promises full-throttle football!
Looking back at the previous season, the most important task of the new BVB coach is clear: consistency is needed. Seldom in the history of Borussia have fans seen a team that has oscillated so dramatically between extremes. One that delivered gala performances in the Champions League, only to drive fans to despair with Valium-like performances in the Bundesliga. Only through consistency can BVB achieve a turnaround in the Bundesliga.
This consistency requires a mentality. And that is exactly what Borussia Dortmund showed in their Champions League victories against Paris and over 60 minutes in the final. BVB must now bring this attitude onto the pitch from the first minute of the Bundesliga. Then this team will once again have its sights set on the top.
BVB season forecast: Borussia Dortmund must be there when the competition wobbles
The new players are encouraging. Waldemar Anton represents additional stability, Yan Couto dynamism on the wing, Pascal Groß strategic skill in midfield. With Maximilian Beier, Borussia now has another high-speed player in its ranks. And Guirassy was the measure of all things in the Bundesliga last season alongside Harry Kane, despite limited playing time.
If Sahin manages to form a functioning and passionate team from this squad, then Borussia can break the 75-point mark again and easily reach the Champions League. Whether there is more in it, as Lars Ricken announced, will then be decided in Leverkusen and Munich. If the competitors are weak, BVB must be there! The Black and Yellows probably have a better chance of winning the title in the DFB Cup final in Berlin.
BVB season forecast: Not enough for the championship yet – but enough for Berlin
Kevin Mattes: Borussia Dortmund is experiencing what is probably the biggest upheaval of recent years, including the personnel changes at the office. BVB is reinventing itself and yet remaining true to its philosophy of relying on young, developing talents who should be led by experienced players. This year’s squad is extremely exciting.
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With Maximilian Beier, Julien Duranville and Jamie Gittens, Dortmund have some youngsters in their ranks who could make a big impact this season. Coach Nuri Sahin is also bringing a breath of fresh air to the club with his tactical adjustments. We will see a dominant BVB again, who will play exciting football, that much is certain. However, this change of course will take time. The new coach himself made this request to the fans on the sidelines of the season opening.
The team will therefore have to accept setbacks. However, it will still be enough to finish in the top 3 in the Bundesliga. The championship would come too soon, however, due to Bayer Leverkusen’s quality and sovereignty. However, the DFB Cup could once again bring a trip to Berlin this year. The quarter-finals of the Champions League are within reach, provided the draw is on their side.
BVB season forecast: Borussia Dortmund has made a clear cut – fortunately
Nico Lankau: For Borussia Dortmund, the main goal in 2024/25 is to finally play a good first half of the Bundesliga season. Everything depends on that. For years, this part of the season has been BVB’s biggest problem. With title ambitions in mind, Dortmund can no longer rely on a strong second half of the season.
Because the competition is no longer just FC Bayern Munich. Bayer Leverkusen was able to keep its championship team almost completely together and RB Leipzig also did not have to undergo another shake-up.
This happened again at BVB. But that’s a good thing. Borussia Dortmund needed a clear cut and the personnel decisions made give cause for optimism, both within the team and behind the scenes.
BVB season opening: The best pictures from the Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund
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BVB season forecast: Nuri Sahin must bring consistency
Now it’s up to coach Nuri Sahin to quickly ensure consistency. If VfB Stuttgart doesn’t have another super season, BVB doesn’t have to worry about qualifying for the Champions League. But the demands in Dortmund are higher than fourth place anyway.
One thing is certain: the new squad makes us want more. In the DFB Cup, BVB is always one of the favorites to win the title and the Champions League is unpredictable, as last season impressively showed. In the Bundesliga, the championship may come too soon, but with more consistency and a better performance in direct duels with the league leaders, BVB will finish at least third.
BVB season forecast: The personnel carousel in Dortmund has turned quite a bit
Lukas Rauer: Borussia Dortmund is starting a new season and it could be exciting. Why is that? BVB can look back on an eventful few months. The appointment of Lars Ricken as sports director, the comeback of Sven Mislintat and the strong Champions League final were followed by the departure of Edin Terzic and the departures of Mats Hummels and Marco Reus. In addition, another crowd favorite, Niclas Füllkrug, recently left the club. So there has been a lot of personnel changes at Rheinlanddamm.
The focus is now on new coach Nuri Sahin and the new signings Serhou Guirassy, Pascal Groß and Yan Couto. The good thing is that Sahin had a whole preparation period to explain his ideas to the players. The 35-year-old has already had many discussions with the new players – Maximilian Beier excluded. It cannot be denied that Sahin’s philosophy of dominant and attractive football is a perfect fit for the club and its fans.
In focus: The new BVB coach Nuri Sahin. © David Inderlied/Kirchner-Media
However, Sahin is a relatively unknown quantity on the coaching bench, just like Bayern’s Vincent Kompany. Xabi Alonso has shown that this doesn’t have to mean anything, but small doubts remain. It also remains to be seen whether the team will actually succeed in becoming more dominant again against supposedly weaker opponents.
BVB season forecast: Borussia Dortmund has strengthened more sensibly than in previous years
In general, however, I am convinced that BVB has strengthened itself more sensibly than in previous years and – if you exclude the left-back position – has a good to very good squad. If professionals like Sabitzer, Schlotterbeck and Brandt build on last season and the new signings make an impact, a title could well emerge at the end.
Because: Vincent Kompany must first prove that he can get Bayern back on track and Bayer Leverkusen can confirm last year’s success. RB Leipzig, on the other hand, remains the big question mark with an almost unchanged squad (as of the day of the forecast). Either way, Dortmund could certainly get used to winning the DFB Cup.
