Borussia Dortmund 2012–13

As a reminder, in this series, we are looking to crown the best German team of the last six years. We will thus begin where it all started. The 2012–13 season was the beginning of what has become a historic run of league dominance for the Bavarian Giants. We will take a look at the season in its entirety and make our case for why this Dortmund squad is The Best of the Rest.

• Previous Year: The 2011–2012 campaign saw Dortmund complete a domestic double of Bundesliga and DFB Pokal. Extending a streak of wins over rivals Bayern Munich to five games including the season finally 5–2 thumping in the Pokal final. The black and yellows were riding high coming into the new season.

• Despite the loss of Shinji Kagawa, the core of last season’s team was intact and the addition of former youth system talent Marco Reus from Borussia Mönchengladbach brought excitement. BVB would come into the season with an opportunity to win as many as four trophies. Having won the aforementioned domestic titles from the previous season had qualified BVB for the DFL-Supercup against runners up Bayern Munich.

Translation: “The First Title Of The Season!”

The match would pit the two best teams in Germany against one another. Both teams were missing key players but the overall squad depth would still result in a close match. The Bavarians would win 2–1 in the Allianz Arena to snap the five-game skid against Dortmund.

• Domestic Stage: The previous two seasons in which Dortmund found themselves hoisting the Meisterschale at the end of the season was a result of incredible form. The Black and Yellows had averaged 24 league wins over the previous two seasons but saw that number drop to 19 wins in 2012–13. Dortmund did, however, find the back of the net in all but one game of the season. Some of that poor form can be attributed to uninspired early defense and slow starting offense. In games in which Dortmund allowed their opponent to score first, their record was 2–2–3. When Dortmund scored first their record was 17–6–3. The three losses were the three league games in which they were shown a straight red card. Losing the likes of Schmelzer, Lewandowski, and Weidenfeller who combined for 91 league appearances.

• Their form in the DFB-Pokal was better although against lesser competition. However, for the second time, Der BVB found themselves falling short in the quarter-finals to their Bavarian rivals in a “win or go home scenario.”
• International Stage: The previous season we saw Dortmund finish last in their group. Going a disheartening 1–1–4 and being outscored 12 to 6. With that underwhelming performance, the expectations were low that a deep run in Europe was on the horizon. BVB found themselves drawn into that season’s “Group of Death” for the UEFA Champions League. The group featured the previous season’s league title holders from Spain (Real Madrid), England (Manchester City) and Netherlands (Ajax) with German champions Dortmund. The exceptional form that had not been there for Dortmund domestically had however shown up on the international stage. The Black and Yellows charged to the top of the group with a perfect home record and zero losses. That impressive form would carry into the knockout phase. A balanced attack would see six different players find the back of the net to put BVB into the semi-finals.

Their opponent was “Group of Death” runners-up Real Madrid. With the first match in front of the iconic “Yellow Wall” the legend of Robert Lewandowski was born. Despite a quick goal in the 8th minute, Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo would answer. Not be outdone on what would become his night, Lewandowski would net three unanswered goals to bring his tally to an unbelievable four. With the first ever all-German final in the UEFA Champions League, Dortmund would have a third attempt to knock off Bayern.

This would be the final game of the season for Borussia Dortmund as they tried to finish the year on a massive high note. There was however a rather large cloud hanging over the game.

The likes of Mario Götze who would watch the Final from the stands with a hamstring injury was making the move to the Bavarian capital.

• THE FINAL: A thrilling first half saw the Black and Yellows with some early chances. The attacking trio or Lewandowski, Reus and Blaszczykowski were giving Bayern fits as they combined for four great chances inside the first 20 minutes. As the first half progressed Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller would become the star. A quick reaction save of Mario Mandžukić’s header and twice coming off his line and sacrificing his body to shut the door on Bayern winger Arjen Robben. The first half would finish 0–0. The physicality picked up as both teams strived for the first goal. In the 60th minute, Bayern would find that goal. Franck Ribéry would find himself tripled teamed just inside the Dortmund box but still managed to find Robben. Once again Weidenfeller would come off his line but the Dutch winger would instead pass to Mandžukić to draw first blood. BVB would not quit as just six minutes later Reus would take a Dante high boot to the stomach in the box. İlkay Gündoğan would send Neuer the wrong way on the ensuing penalty to level the score. An unbelievable goal-line clearance by Neven Subotić would prevent Robben from taking back the lead. Robert Lewandowski would find the back of the net off the half volley from very long range only to have it called back for handball. The back and forth from the first half would continue for the next 16 minutes with Weidenfeller making some world-class saves. But in the 89th minute, Ribéry would again find Robben through traffic and this time the left foot of the Dutchman would not be denied as the slow roller would find the back of the net. Bayern would hold on in stoppage and win the game.
• Top Performers: The individual top performers were the quartet of…
• Lewandowski: Goals — 37 Assists — 13
• Reus: Goals — 19 Assists — 16
• Götze: Goals — 16 Assists — 20
• Blaszczykowski: Goals — 14 Assists — 15
• Recap: No, this team did not win any of the four trophies that they set out for at the beginning of the season. That being said to compete on that many fronts for as long as they did is impressive. As we look at each competition we see that Dortmund faced a historically great Bayern team in all four.
• DFL Supercup: 2–1 (in Munich)
• Bundesliga: 2nd place (with two draws against Bayern Munich)
• DFB-Pokal: 1–0 (Quarter-finals vs. eventual champions Bayern also in Munich)
• UEFA Champions League: 2–1