Dortmund needs quick recovery to keep Bundesliga exciting

Borussia Dortmund players celebrate after Julian Brandt scores their first goal during their Bundesliga match against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at PreZero Arena, Sinsheim, Germany on Feb. 25, 2023 (Reuters/File)
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  • Schalke ended Dortmund鈥檚 perfect league record since the turn of the year with a 2-2 draw on Saturday
  • There鈥檚 concern now that tiredness and injuries are taking their toll just when the season enters its decisive phase

BERLIN: After hitting their first bumps of 2023, Borussia Dortmund need to recover quickly to keep the Bundesliga title race exciting before facing Bayern Munich.
Schalke ended Dortmund鈥檚 perfect league record since the turn of the year with a 2-2 draw on Saturday. They came after the club were knocked out of the Champions League by Chelsea the previous Tuesday 鈥� a 2-0 loss in the second leg that ended Dortmund鈥檚 10-game winning run since the winter break.
There鈥檚 concern now that tiredness and injuries are taking their toll just when the season enters its decisive phase. Ten matches in the Bundesliga remain. Dortmund next hosts Cologne on Saturday before visiting Bayern for 鈥渄er Klassiker鈥� on April 1.
Worries about the form of forward S茅bastien Haller are not helping.
Haller had been expected to help fill the gap left by Erling Haaland鈥檚 departure for Manchester City, but the Ivory Coast striker has scored only one goal in 12 appearances in all competitions since returning in January after six months out for testicular cancer treatment.
鈥淚鈥檓 not as forgetful as one or two journalists or the media,鈥� Dortmund coach Edin Terzi膰 said Thursday. 鈥淚 said at the time in Bad Ragaz (Switzerland), when we found out about this serious illness, that there would be turmoil and dismay in the next days. And that as soon as there was a game, that it would all be forgotten. Then it鈥檚 all about the No. 9 from Borussia Dortmund.鈥�
Terzi膰 said he remembered saying in January before Haller鈥檚 return that it was the best thing this year that the forward was back with the team.
鈥淎nd I鈥檓 sticking to that. It鈥檚 an unbelievably great feeling to have S茅bastien back on the field with us every day,鈥� Terzi膰 said. 鈥淥f course, he鈥檇 like to have scored 20 goals already, and we鈥檇 like it, too 鈥� it鈥檚 no secret. But we know he鈥檚 taken an extraordinary journey in the last few months. And we will support him with that and his development so he鈥檚 back to 100 percent again soon.鈥�
Haller will get more practice against Cologne.
Dortmund and Bayern were even on points before last weekend, but Bayern have pulled two points ahead thanks to Schalke鈥檚 favor. The Bavarian powerhouse appears to have weathered their own drop in form and doesn鈥檛 look likely to gift Dortmund any more opportunities as they chase a record-extending 11th consecutive league title.
Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl blamed a lack of focus and efficiency for the draw at Schalke. Dortmund were clearly the better team but failed to make more of their goal chances, while the home team twice drew level thanks to some uncommitted defending from the visitors.
Injuries have played a role, though Terzi膰 should still have had enough quality players to beat Schalke, a team that only recently pulled itself out of last place and have only four wins this season.
Germany midfielder Julian Brandt was arguably in the best form of his life before he had to go off injured against Chelsea, and forward Karim Adeyemi, Youssoufa Moukoko and Marco Reus were all missing for the match against Schalke. Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel is also injured.
鈥淲e had a completely full (substitutes) bench in the first weeks of January,鈥� Kehl said. 鈥淪till the squad was capable of winning today. It鈥檚 not a question of quality, also not the players who came in.鈥�
Kehl referred to the impact of substitutes after coming on in January and February, when Gio Reyna (twice) and Reus scored late goals to clinch wins.
鈥淭oday it was probably a case of less influence from the bench,鈥� Kehl said.
Reyna has had a limited role this season, making only five starts, but he was still the player with most goals (five) available against Schalke because of the injuries among Dortmund鈥檚 forward line.
Fortunately for Dortmund, Reus 鈥� the team captain 鈥� is expected to return on Saturday.
Bayern visits Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday.