5 reasons Borussia Dortmund will still finish in the top four
A stunning showing in Lisbon has restored faith that mid-table Borussia Dortmund can soar up the standings in the remainder of the Bundesliga campaign. With Niko Kovač's tactical magic, Serhou Guirassy's goals and the weight of history behind them, bundesliga.com makes the case for an end-of-season resurgence from the Black-Yellows...
1) The Kovač effect
Coming into a side failing to live up to expectations most of the way through a season is no easy task for a coach, but Kovač has set about unfussily working on how to inspire Dortmund since taking charge at the end of January, with a promise of hard work and intensity. While one swallow does not make a summer, the stunning 3-0 win at Sporting Lisbon in just Kovač's second match in charge instantly lifted the mood at the club and provided a blueprint for further success. The solidity at the back and clinical attacking touch shown in Portugal seems to have been within Dortmund's grasp for a long time, but if Kovač can prove to be the man to strike that ideal balance on a regular basis, BVB can be expected to make steady progress up the Bundesliga table.
2) Guirassy = goals
Guirassy's unstoppable header that opened the scoring in Lisbon was an unforgettable moment - and was a reminder of the kind of individual brilliance many Dortmund players possess. While Julian Brandt, Jamie Gittens and Karim Adeyemi are very capable of conjuring up game-changing magic, the sharpness in Guirassy's finishing will surely be worth a few extra points between now and the end of the season. The Guinea international is the 10-goal top scorer in the 2024/25 Champions League, with over one strike per game putting him ahead of Harry Kane, Robert Lewandowski and Erling Haaland. There is no particular reason why his league tally is currently a more modest nine goals in 18 games, so expect him to make Bundesliga nets bulge aplenty before the end of May.
Watch: All of Serhou Guirassy's Bundesliga goals for Borussia Dortmund
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3) New thrust
There were signs in the win in Sporting that Dortmund's transfer business during the January window could turn out to be invaluable in the coming months. Full-back Daniel Svensson made his Dortmund debut after injury ruled out Ramy Bensebaini, in theory a far from ideal introduction for a player who had just spent two months off during the Danish winter break. Svensson cut a decent figure in the encounter, with his performance improving as the match progressed. Kovač said after the match: "I have to praise little Daniel. He didn't have any minutes behind him, but still played really well. That has to be mentioned." It is impossible to judge Carney Chukwuemeka on the basis of his four-minute debut as a late substitute in Lisbon after joining Dortmund on loan, but he is known as an energetic and insightful attacking midfielder and, like Svensson, gives BVB a useful extra option as they juggle the Champions League knockout rounds with their quest to climb into the top four.
Watch: Carney Chukwuemeka: "I play without fear"
4) History on their side
You don't make the Champions League final - and put in an impressive performance in a narrow defeat to record winners Real Madrid - by accident as Dortmund did last spring. It's also no coincidence to finish in the Bundesliga's top five for nine consecutive seasons. In fact, last season's fifth-placed finish was the lowest BVB landed at the end of a campaign since 2014/15, but was enough for an extra Champions League berth thanks to the stellar performances of German clubs in Europe. While historical runs in football don't always reflect the present situation, in Dortmund's case they clearly show they are a squad capable of beating any team in Europe - let alone Germany - on their day.
5) Close race
A spot in the second half in the table, down in 11th, may sound a crisis klaxon for a club of Dortmund's stature, but a closer look at the standings - in particular the packed middle of the Bundesliga standings - shows that there are plenty of reasons for optimism in the BVB camp. They are the last team in a group of seven within seven points of fourth-placed RB Leipzig, who have won just one of their last five. With 13 games to go, it's a very bridgeable gap for a team of Dortmund's quality and experience. Three points away to local rivals Bochum on Matchday 22 would be a great place to start.
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