The yellow and blacks lost two important players to injury on the weekend and will have to alter their lineup ahead of a clash with Hertha Berlin.
Momentum alone will not suffice to see off a Hertha side that is resolved to cling to first-tier football next season, so what can BVB count on to drive home what must be called a make-or-break game?
The pictures of a deflated Dortmund side stumbling into yet another defeat in Berlin look like impressions from a different season. Astonishingly enough though, they are only about four months fresh, a time in which Dortmund found themselves dwindling in a downward spiral to the very bottom of the league.
At the time, Hertha Berlin were not just on top of Dortmund in terms of the table, but also confidently managed to edge out BVB 1-0 after ninety minutes in their previous meeting. It was a defeat that stung Dortmund and elevated Berlin, who appeared to be in sync with their ambitions for the season.
Fast forward to today. Hertha have not been able to score three points for a whole month and slipped back into a relegation-threatened spot, whereas three matches undefeated have seen Dortmund muscle their way back up the table, with the realistic chance to qualify for the Europa League. How the tables have turned.
Incited by that run, Dortmund players and officials have become increasingly vocal about their Europa League dream and have been unanimous that Hertha on no account must become a stumbling block. Post Hoffenheim, Sebastian Kehl was quick to declare that ‘we [Dortmund] need to win our two remaining home matches, that’s our aim’ (BVB.de/en), sending an early warning to Pal Dardai’s side in the capital.
Does Kehl get ahead of himself in staking out a claim? A brief look at BVB’s form, individual quality and Jurgen Klopp’s poise to bring the season to a gratifying end all bolster Kehl’s appeal.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s form alone has been consistently improving — oddly since Klopp announced his resignation — and could prove decisive for the season’s final stages.
Elsewhere, Marco Reus’ return to the squad is imminent and will further invigorate the team. Add a packed Westfalenstadion to the mix and you would be forgiven to think that Hertha stand little chance in this one. However, to make it happen, Dortmund are going to have to put Hertha under pressure early just to avoid thoughts of the previous encounter resurfacing. If they can get an early edge, they should be capable of driving Hertha Berlin off the field.
Dortmund have learnt the hard way that things do not just fall into place as a reward for trying hard. They are squaring off against a wounded team, which can be the most dangerous opponent to face at this stage of the season.
Hertha, however, know how to beat the black and yellows. On that account, they will strive to replicate their home performance against Dortmund and hope that once again, it turns out to be a big hurdle for BVB.
To make matters more difficult, Klopp lost offensive midfielder Jakub Blasczcykowski against Hoffenheim for an estimated two weeks and striker Adrian Ramos for a whole lot longer. With two offensive options out, Ciro Immobile could move into the limelight once again, if not from the start, at least as an early substitute. He got his chance last time Dortmund played the capital team, where Hertha found the right measures to stifle him for the most part. A repeat of that is anything but desirable in Dortmund’s book.
What adds to the headache is the fact that this season’s BVB have repeatedly faltered under pressure. Be it the traumatic plunge earlier this season, a plunge that would probably have gone on forever if it had not been for the winter break rescuing them, or their gutless home performance against Juventus in the Champions League round of 16.
The challenge they are facing now arguably exceeds all previous in its importance for the future of the club. Ilkay Guendogan has confirmed his departure this summer and if Dortmund are intent to confound the growing perception of star players jumping ship, Europa League football also ought to be attained for the sake of keeping Mats Hummels.
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All of this is up for grabs right now for Dortmund and there is no doubt they will do everything they can do reach their target. The good news is that it is in their own hands, but somehow that is also the bad news.
Dortmund versus Hertha Berlin is a must win, a make-or-break match defining the outcome of both clubs’ seasons.
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