The strange case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a novel by Robert Louis Stevenson but also a beautiful performance of the 2024/2025 season of Borussia Dortmund. Brilliant in the Champions League like its quarter-final obtained after a nice route where Sporting CP and Lille were dismissed before elimination against FC Barcelona (0-4/3-1), Borussia Dortmund was disillusioned in the championship. In a season when Nuri Sahin was dismissed, Mike Tulberg worked before Niko Kovac replaced him on February 2 while Borussia Dortmund was 11th on the evening of the 20th day.
And if the mandate of Niko Kovac has made it possible to put order in this team, it still required time. Showing progress in the game with the Croatian technician, the BVB remained stuck in the middle of the table. For his first six matches at the head of the first team, Niko Kovac also experienced 4 defeats against Stuttgart (2-1), Bochum (2-0), Augsburg (1-0) and the RB Leipzig (2-0). What greatly mortgage the European future of a club which was eleventh in the 27th day. But since everything has changed. Taking advantage of a championship that is progressing little with the exception of the champion, Bayern Munich and his dolphin Le Bayer Leverkusen, Dortmund took the matches that left as real finals.
A cannon end of the season
Well helped by his house scorer Serhou Guirassy who ends the season in cannonball with six goals and an offering in the last six games, Borussia Dortmund remains on six victories in seven matches and a 2-2 draw conceded against Bayern Munich. A series of victories that made Dortmund in a few weeks to go from this eleventh place to a fifth place which assures him at least the Europa League or even the Europa Conference League (3 points ahead and +5 difference on Mainz as well as 3 points ahead and +11 difference on the RB Leipzig) before the last day. Yes but here it is, Borussia Dortmund will mainly aim above to obtain its place in the top 4 which is synonymous with qualification in the Champions League.
Located 3 points from the Eintracht Frankfurt (which has a higher difference of 3 goals) and 1 unit from Friborg (which has a lower difference of 19 goals), the BVB will take advantage of the calendar since Friborg receives the Eintracht this Saturday when the Marsupiaux will receive the Holstein Kiel (17th) which is already condemned to the descent in 2. Bundesliga. Consequently, Borussia Dortmund has its destiny in hand and will be assured of Champions League in several contexts. If Friborg loses against Frankfurt and Dortmund draws. If Friborg loses or draw against Frankfurt and Dortmund wins. If Dortmund wins by a goal and Frankfurt loses two goals against Friborg. If Dortmund wins with two goals of differences or more and that Friborg wins against Frankfurt. A scenario qualifies whatever happens Borussia Dortmund is to gain by three goals against Kiel.
A objective clearly within the reach of Borussia Dortmund given its dynamics and the game offered by the Niko Kovac team. Staying on beautiful victories against Wolfsburg (4-0) and Bayer Leverkusen (4-2), Dortmund experienced a real rebirth with the former coach of Monaco. “”Niko kicked us behind. He told us that we had to run, whatever the opponent. It was very difficult at first. But I must say that it helped me. I feel more fit“, Also said Karim Adeyemi, one of the major players in this beautiful end of the season of the Ruhr club. Reinforcing a too wobbly defense with a passage to three behind and by operating well Karim Adeyemi and Julian Brandt in support of Serhou Guirassy, Niko Kovac found his ideal formula. Among the winners are also the left piston Daniel Svensson which officially signed this Wednesday with the lifting of its purchase obligation. On the way to the Champions League, Dortmund has made an end to the XXL season which will ask for its apotheosis at the Iduna Park signal this Saturday.
