BVB 2025/26: Duty or dream – what can Dortmund achieve this season? | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund kicks off the new season with a familiar blend of duty and boundless ambition. Athletically, qualifying for the Champions League is the minimum goal, but the expectations in the Yellow Wall go far beyond that. Championship, international successes, and a new attempt at the grand title fuel the hope that 2025/26 will be more than just another chapter – but a year full of BVB moments of special significance.

Optimistic Predictions from Bookmakers

Despite a previous season marked by highs and lows, betting providers are rating BVB very positively at the start of the new season. Reputable bookmakers, who do not use the LUGAS database for betting, see the Black and Yellows as a sure participant in the upcoming Champions League – alongside Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen. For the championship title, however, FC Bayern remains the benchmark according to odds. Behind them, RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt are considered the main competitors in the race for the top league, while VfB Stuttgart and SC Freiburg lurk as outsiders. Since such predictions have often been surprisingly accurate in the past, fans can look forward to a successful BVB season with confidence.

Continuity as a Success Factor

After a difficult phase under Nuri Sahin, Borussia Dortmund was on shaky ground at the start of the second half of the last season. The turnaround was brought by Niko Kovac, the Croatian football legend, who managed to lead the team out of its slump. Under his leadership, BVB achieved an impressive series at the end of the season: five wins in the last five matchdays and eight games without a loss. The offense was particularly convincing, with at least three goals in seven of these eight games. Some players truly flourished under Kovac – especially Serhou Guirassy, who scored at least one goal in six of the last seven league games of the previous season.

The summer brought hardly any changes to the squad, further strengthening continuity. Most key players have stayed, the team is well-rehearsed, and it is expected that Dortmund will quickly reach its usual form. Two players, Daniel Svensson and Yan Couto, were permanently signed after loan periods and are already well-acquainted with the team environment. The only notable new addition is Jobe Bellingham, who came from Sunderland for just over 30 million euros. With 40 league appearances, four goals, and three assists during Sunderland's promotion last year, he brings surprisingly much experience. Complemented by the experienced backup goalkeeper Patrick Drewes, BVB has a stable foundation available, underpinning the optimism for a successful season.

Competitive Readiness at the Highest Level

The solid performance at the Club World Cup 2025 made it clear early on that the team under Niko Kovac can compete internationally. Despite being eliminated in the quarter-finals against Real Madrid, BVB presented itself as strong and showed that it can keep up with the best in Europe.

This competitive readiness was already confirmed in last year's Champions League: In six matches under Kovac up to the quarter-finals, there was only one loss against Barcelona, along with three wins and two draws. Particularly impressive was the second leg against the Catalans, when Dortmund won 3-1 at home after a 0-4 defeat in the first leg. The team also performed very well in Bundesliga derbies, such as the victory against Bayer Leverkusen and the draw against the eventual champion Bayern Munich. Together, these performances show that Kovac's team is competitive at the highest level.

Entering the New Season with Optimism

With continuity in the squad, a proven coach, and experience from international competitions, Borussia Dortmund starts the new season full of confidence. The team is well-rehearsed, talented, and strong in battle – ideal conditions to succeed in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League.

The fans in Dortmund will support their team with unparalleled passion as usual, making them particularly dangerous for any opponent at home. Between mandatory tasks like CL qualification and the big dreams of championships and international successes, one can be optimistic: This season could once again be a special year full of magical moments for the Black and Yellows.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.