Borussia Dortmund are fighting for their lives in the Bundesliga top-four race just one season after taking Bayern Munich to their limit in the Bundesliga title race.
Yet despite their struggles domestically after failing to adequately replace the best player in the world, Jude Bellingham, Dortmund are back in the Champions League semifinals for the first time since Jurgen Klopp took them to the final against bitter rivals Bayern.
BVB’s path to the semis wasn’t exactly easy either, as they had to get past two-time finalists Atletico Madrid and one of the best players in the world in his own right, Antoine Griezmann.
But that’s exactly what Dortmund achieved with a ferocious second leg showing, winning 4-2 in front of their home fans to turn the tie in their favor, showing once again why the Signal Iduna Park is one of the most venerable fortresses in world football.
Here are three Dortmund players who boosted their transfer values with strong showings in front of the entire world, playing key roles in this 4-2 triumph.
Marcel Sabitzer
Marcel Sabitzer is one of a number of veteran players Dortmund signed from rivals Bayern Munich at a relatively discounted price, but he’s also one of the players fans have criticized as being the wrong signing.
But Dortmund clearly wouldn’t be in the Champions League semifinals without Sabitzer, who has been the main attacking threat from the center of midfield and the most composed midfielder overall at a technical level.
The former RB Leipzig man showed his game-changing ability and leadership – both are key to a BVB team that is, quite frankly, still lacking in both categories.
Sabitzer scored and assisted twice, proving to be the impetus to BVB’s four-goal showing and comeback from a 2-1 deficit. These are the kinds of characters Dortmund need in their locker room, and it is important to have leaders who can lead by example by winning games directly. Sabitzer’s big-game display against Atletico Madrid was a reminder to the world that, on his day, he can be one of the finest midfielders in Europe.
Niclas Fullkrug
Niclas Fullkrug was easily the best German striker of the 2022/23 season for Werder Bremen, ensuring one of the Bundesliga’s most historic clubs would not be sent down to the second division.
Controversially signed by Dortmund this past summer, many fans felt the club would have been better served investing in more center back help, especially with Mats Hummels getting older and Niklas Sule failing to make good on his high wages from Bayern Munich.
Fullkrug has proven to be essential, however, as one of the best all-around strikers in Europe, stepping up his game as a provider and accommodating his game to fit Dortmund, their playing style, and their young surrounding talent. Essentially, he’s done what Sebastien Haller has failed to do.
The 31-year-old showed his top-quality scoring and creation with his end product again, but this time on the biggest stage of the season yet in an elimination tilt against the 2020/21 LaLiga champions, Atletico Madrid.
Fullkrug scored and assisted for BVB, bringing his Champions League total to two goals and three assists while he has 11 goals and 8 assists. Many teams around Europe would love to have a striker with Fullkrug’s professionalism, consistency, and all-around ability.
Ian Maatsen
Acquired on loan from Chelsea, Ian Maatsen has established himself as a regular starter for Dortmund and a key player, scoring an important goal from the fullback position in this 4-2 conquest of Atletico Madrid.
Maatsen was an odd man out in London and remains unwanted, but should he continue to perform consistently for Dortmund, it would make sense for him to earn a permanent move to the Bundesliga powers.
Although Dortmund don’t directly have an option to buy Maatsen, Chelsea do have a release clause in the 22-year-old left back’s contract worth 35 million pounds.
That’s really expensive for Dortmund, even if Edin Terzic loves Maatsen, his intensity, and the fact that he’s playing defense at an elite level with nearly four tackles and interceptions won per game combined.
But many other teams can afford that fee, and with Chelsea willing to sell the talented young left back, they will take notice of Maatsen’s big-game display in the Champions League quarterfinals vs. Atletico Madrid and see him as a more attractive transfer target.
If anything, that could make it more difficult for Dortmund to acquire him, but since everyone pays the same fee and he is familiar with the club now, they may have the leg-up and could, perhaps cynically speaking, turn him into a bigger profit down the road.
The managing editor of The Trivela Effect, Kevin has 15 years of experience in digital media. He has been an editor for NFL Spin Zone, Daily DDT for pro wrestling, Autzen Zoo covering the Oregon Ducks, Musket Fire covering the New England Patriots, The Real Champs covering Real Madrid, Old Juve covering Juventus, Rush The Kop covering Liverpool, and Release The Knappen covering Schalke. His work has been featured in ESPN, Bleacher Report, Yahoo! Sports, NBC Sports, and other outlets. You can contact him at the site’s official Twitter handle @TrivelaEffect or via the site’s official email thetrivelaeffect@gmail.com.
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