Bundesliga: In the title race: BVB relies on Malen, Adeyemi and Haller

Unsuccessful in the first half of the season, celebrated in the second half – Borussia Dortmund relies on a trio infernale in the final sprint for the title. After an initial lack of goals, the lightning-fast wingers Donyell Malen and Karim Adeyemi have recently caused a sensation.

And because goalscorer Sébastien Haller is only half a year after his two cancer surgeries with accompanying chemotherapy on the way to old class, Dortmund’s footballers can continue to hope for a happy ending in the long-distance duel with FC Bayern.

No team in Europe has scored more after the end of the winter break than BVB, who have scored an impressive 53 goals after the winter break. 22 of them go to the account of the three offensive powers. “That’s exactly what we had in mind. You can see what’s in their feet,” commented coach Edin Terzic on the attackers’ flight. “It’s hard to imagine that these three players still haven’t scored a Bundesliga goal after 17 matchdays,” added Terzic.

The German press agency takes a look at the three guarantors of success of the past few weeks before the second-placed team’s game on Sunday (5:30 p.m. / DAZN) at FC Augsburg:

Donyell Paint

Malen, which many fans have already written off as a bad buy, has recently been relieved of heavy burdens. After more than a year in the BVB jersey, the Dutchman, who was signed from Eindhoven in summer 2021 for around 30 million euros, confirms his good training performance even during the games. With nine goals and four assists, the 24-year-old is suddenly one of the best scorers in the league this year.

“With his dynamism, his final strength and his preparation skills, he is incredibly enriching for us. That was the idea behind his signing. I’m glad that he’s been demonstrating that more and more often,” said BVB sporting director Sebastian Kehl recently.

Karim Adeymi

After a long start, Adeyemi, who was signed by RB Salzburg in the summer, has made an impressive start and has scored six goals and six assists so far. BVB proudly announced on Thursday that the currently fastest Bundesliga player according to measurements had been voted “Rookie of the Season”. In the voting by fans, clubs and selected Bundesliga experts, the 21-year-old prevailed against Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern Munich) and Henning Matriciani (FC Schalke 04). After Ousmane Dembélé (2016/17), the German national player is the second BVB professional to be happy about this award.

His winning goal in mid-February to make it 1-0 in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Chelsea after a successful solo run over almost 70 meters proved to be a key experience. “We just hope that it’s not just a knot that has burst, but that it’s a constant performance from him,” Terzic commented at the time. The coach’s wish should come true.

Sebastien Haller

Haller’s improvement in form is particularly pleasing. After being diagnosed with testicular cancer at the summer training camp in Bad Ragaz, he missed most of the first half of the season. In the 5-2 win against Mönchengladbach last Saturday, the scorer made his best game in a BVB jersey, initiated the first two goals and scored the next two himself. “There’s something mental about why I’m doing so well. I’m enjoying it it can be every day that I’m here, on the pitch and in the dressing room,” commented Dortmund’s record purchase, committed by Ajax Amsterdam last summer for over 30 million euros.

According to Terzic, the top scorer not only played a major role in the positive development because of his seven goals. With his ability to hold the ball and pass it on after being passed, he ensures “that the guys around him get better”. The BVB coach continues: “We have players who gain meters for us. He is a player who gains seconds for us.”