The UEFA Champions League in 2024 turned out to be a cornerstone event for Borussia Dortmund. The aftermath was totally unpredictable for the team and their fans. But let’s start from the very beginning.
Group Stage Performance
In the first stage of a football cup tournament, there is usually a group containing several best teams, not all of whom can move to the next level of the tournament. This batch is called “a group of death.” This was exactly what the Champions League draw in 2024 gave us. When Group F, including PSG, Newcastle United, AC Milan, and Borussia, was revealed, even the most smart observers could not guess who would survive. Well, Borussia Dortmund did. The top betting platforms, including the 1Xbet site, were running wild with predictions. Everyone was excited for the outcome.
Knockout Stage Journey
This is how the event unravelled. Let’s review it in short.
Round of 16
Dortmund competed with the Dutch team PSV Eindhoven. The first leg held at the Philips Stadion was a draw, while the second leg ended in a 2-0 win and advanced the team to quarterfinals.
Quarterfinals
Quarterfinals were marked by a match with Atletico Madrid. After a 1-2 loss in the first leg, Dortmund hit a 4-2 win and, therefore, qualified for the semifinals.
Semifinals
The semifinals were ones for the books: the team won 2-0 against Paris Saint-Germain to qualify for their first Champions League final in eleven years. Mats Hummels once again contributed to the victory with the only goal in the second leg match.
Finals
And here comes the final game! An extremely tough opponent, Real Madrid is a strong favorite going into the matchup with Borussia Dortmund. Truth be told, Real Madrid has a long history of winning the UEFA Champions League; the team has won a record 14 of these championships. With Borussia Dortmund, the situation is not as promising. It is the team’s third time participating in the UEFA Champions League final. In the 2023/24 season, Borussia Dortmund ended a disappointing fifth in the German Bundesliga. At the same time, Real Madrid was sailing to the 36th La Liga title. This was supposed to be quite an uneven confrontation. In the end, Real Madrid won the UEFA finals with a score of 2:0 versus Borussia Dortmund.
Tactical Analysis
Edin Terzic, the coach of the team, implements the football principles that Borussia Dortmund has been using for the previous 20 years. The style can be described as aggressive counterattacking. The team is trained to apply constant pressure, concentrating on making the opponent team make mistakes.
Edin Terzić’s Tactical Approach
With the latest news about Edin and Borussia Dortmund parting ways, new controversies about his coaching technique keep popping up. After Terzic led the team to the finals in the UEFA Champions League, he asked the management to terminate his contract with immediate effect. He never disclosed the reasons for the move, but rumour has it the decision was partly powered by his feud with Mats Hummels, the defender of the team, over the play strategy. Hummels, by the way, also left the team, announcing his decision the next day after Edin’s notice. Hopefully, the team will not fall apart without these two strong figures by its side.
Defensive Strategies
Do the defensive techniques applied by Terzic work for the team? Technically, Borussia Dortmund has one of the best defensive records in the whole league; however, some choices may seem controversial. In 2024, most games started with four players at the back, two central defenders and two wing-backs. Also, sometimes, the team plays with a high backline and almost no space between defenders. It is a complicated strategy that requires a lot of concentration from the players.
Offensive Strategies
Borussia Dortmund has a certain offensive talent but, according to the stats, the team scores less than their Bundesliga opponents. With Terzic, Dortmund attacks half-spaces in wider areas so that the full-back or center-back gets dragged out of position. The team enhances their attacking strategies in the final third, which is their strongest section of the match usually.
Key Players and Their Contributions
Borussia Dortmund has always been a team. It means that all players create a unique system aimed at winning. However, there are certain players who make it work rather than not.
Gregor Kobel
Gregor is one of the most important players in the team, who has shown remarkable performance during the Champions League matches. He was a key figure in the semifinal match against PSG.
Mats Hummels
In the semifinal matchup against Paris Saint-Germain, Dortmund was a heavy underdog even though they had previously defeated Atletico Madrid. Hummels was a true hero, combining masterfully with Nico Schlotterbeck, his core defensive partner, and scoring the only goal of the game. He is obviously in the top three defenders in Germany with his quick reaction and prediction skills. Then why was he left out of Germany’s Euro 2024 squad? Mats is not an easy person to handle, and he has his own opinions about the game strategy and the team setup. His influence cannot be underestimated, but after the UEFA Champions League, he parted ways with Borussia Dortmund for good.
Niclas Fullkrug
Dortmund’s clutch player, Niclas Fullkrig, has proven himself as one of the key players during the Champions League. He has contributed three goals and three assists to the competition. His participation in the tournament was essential for Dortmund’s offensive plan.
Nico Schlotterbeck
Nico has been a part of Borussia Dortmund since July 2022 and has made almost 90 appearances. He is a great defender who efficiently teams up with Mats Hummels. Unlike Hummels, he was chosen as a player for the German squad in the Euro 2024.
Challenges and Overcoming Adversity
With the unexpected exits of Mats Hummels and coach Terzic following the competition, a lot of questions arise as per the future of the team. Many do blame Edin for the poor performance during the season. Not to be overlooked, Terzic was in charge of Dortmund’s final victory in the DFB-Pokal final back in 2021, a 4-1 victory over RB Leipzig. Of course, Terzic’s contributions to the team should not be ignored, and without him things might have turned out far worse.
Fan Support and Atmosphere
The Wembley Stadium in London was filled with German fans who came to support Borussia Dortmund in the finals. However, not everyone was there to cheer and shout for the team. Spotted: hundreds of Borussia Dortmund fans with posters protesting against sportwashing. Huh?
Sportwashing is a relatively new term which refers to associating sports teams with parties that have controversial or even malicious history behind their backs.
Dortmund fans protested against the club’s three-year deal with Rheinmetall, a well-known arms manufacturer. Oh well, apparently, controversy is the synonym of the Yellow and Black’s performance at the UEFA Champions League 2024.
Conclusion
Borussia Dortmund did really well at the UEFA Champions League in 2024. The team was not a favorite, but they managed to go all the way to the finals, where they lost to a worldwide soccer pet, Real Madrid. Currently, Borussia Dortmund is at a crossroads following the resignations of their coach and the star centre-back shortly after the UEFA finals. Hopefully, the team will find the balance necessary for future wins.
