Borussia Dortmund News and Analysis

Dortmund want to bring Inter Milan star back to relevancy as Nico Schlotterbeck replacement

28Feb

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Transfer News

Dortmund want to bring Inter Milan star back to relevancy as Nico Schlotterbeck replacement

Nico Schlotterbeck has been central to Borussia Dortmund's success this season but is fully expected to leave for a bigger club, so BVB are monitoring center back options with Inter Milan owned defender Benjamin Pavard on their transfer radar. Per a report from German outlet Sport Bild, Dortmund are eyeing Pavard as a summer 2026 transfer. Although he is on loan at Marseille this season, it is highly unlikely for OM to sign him permanently from the Nerazzurri, and he clearly has no future in Milano. Pavard was a star in the Bundesliga before moving to Serie A in the fabled Inter back three, which is his best fit as a player in that wide center back role. He was a phenom for Stuttgart, shining brightly with his technical quality on the ball, and then he was a key part of Bayern Munich...

Dortmund get decisive injury news before facing Bayern Munich and Atalanta

24Feb

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Injury News

Dortmund get decisive injury news before facing Bayern Munich and Atalanta

Borussia Dortmund hold a vital but still tenuous 2-0 lead over Atalanta in the first round of the Champions League playoffs, and they will like their chances even more with The Athletic's Bundesliga correspondent Seb Stafford-Bloor reporting that star center back Nico Schlotterbeck was able to train and has been named to the club's squad for the game. BVB were able to pitch a shutout against La Dea without Schlotty available, but the presence of one of the best center backs in the Bundesliga was sorely missed over the weekend in a hard-fought, 2-2 draw with RB Leipzig, whose wingers Brajan Gruda and Yan Diomande torched them while Christoph Baumgartner put Serhou Guirassy to shame with two beautiful poached goals. It's been a tough stretch of games for Dortmund, who, after facing La ...

2025/26 Champions League Power Rankings after first leg of playoffs

20Feb

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Rankings

2025/26 Champions League Power Rankings after first leg of playoffs

The first leg of the playoffs before the Champions League Round of 16 have been completed, and already, clubs like Juventus and Qarabag look to be out of it entirely after suffering blowout losses. Meanwhile, other notable clubs like Atalanta and Inter Milan are very much on the ropes, while Spanish powerhouses Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid remain in tight contests after the first leg. Clubs on bye weeks are sitting pretty right now, but even contenders like Liverpool and PSG will be on high alert amidst disappointing seasons in their respective league campaigns. Following another week of thrilling Champions League action, let's take a look at the latest power rankings, picking the top 10 teams in the competition thus far with the best chance of winning it all. 10. Borussia Dor...

Ranking the 25 best Bundesliga players of the 2025/26 season so far

12Feb

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Analysis

Ranking the 25 best Bundesliga players of the 2025/26 season so far

The German Bundesliga doesn't quite have the same firepower across the top flight as it used to, but between Luka Vuskovic's incredible maiden season in a top flight league of any kind, the ludicrously elite Bayern Munich front three, and the underrated stars of Stuttgart and RB Leipzig (and now Hoffenheim, too), there is a lot of talent in the league worth getting excited about. With more than half of the 2025/26 season now in the bag, it is time to rank the 25 very best players in the Bundesliga this season in order from worst to first. Obviously, Bayern Munich dominate the list, but even the likes of Hamburg and Mainz have representatives in what has been an unpredictable season beyond the top spot. 25. Hamburg LB Miro Muheim Miro Muheim was Hamburg's best player in the 2. Bundes...

Ranking the 10 most clutch players in world football in 2026

11Feb

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Rankings

Ranking the 10 most clutch players in world football in 2026

Defining the most clutch footballers in the world is a difficult task nowadays, because the titans of the past like Luka Modric, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Karim Benzema, and Kevin De Bruyne are no longer as vital or as exceptional as they used to be. There is a new crop of stars in world football, and some of them are still trying to learn the ropes or make a name for themselves at the end of games. But a few others are already showing that they can change the complexion of games in an instant when it matters most. Here are the 10 most clutch footballers in the world today in 2026, ranked all the way from 10th to 1st. 10. Borussia Dortmund CF Maximilian Beier Maximilian Beier kicks off the list as the most surprising name on it, but the Borussia Dortmund center forward has...

Ranking the 10 best young left backs in world football in 2026

10Feb

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Analysis

Ranking the 10 best young left backs in world football in 2026

Because left footers are more rare than right footers and because top fullbacks are hard to find in the modern game, left backs are among the most valuable players in world football and can often be a weak link for the top teams in European football. As 2026 trudges onward, let's take a look at the best young left backs in world football today, ranking the current crop of young talent under the age of 24 from 10th to 1st. 10. Daniel Svensson, Borussia Dortmund If this list were solely about the players' performances in the 2025/26 season, Daniel Svensson would probably rank a couple of slots higher, because he has overperformed this season as a workhorse player on the left flank in that wing back role on a Dortmund team that is otherwise pretty atrocious out wide. While projectin...

Every Bundesliga team’s biggest weakness in 2026

9Feb

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Analysis

Every Bundesliga team’s biggest weakness in 2026

The 2025/26 Bundesliga season is more than halfway done, and so now is as great of a time as ever to pinpoint the biggest sporting weakness in each side in the German top flight so far this season. Augsburg: Retaining control Every smaller Bundesliga side is inherently going to struggle at least somewhat in possession, and the style of the Bundesliga has never really been about being strong with the ball, unless if you are Bayern Munich (and occasionally RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund, depending on the manager). But Augsburg have more talent than their placement in the league table (13th) suggests. A big part of that is their inability to protect leads by keeping control of games, both in and out of possession. They have a few players who are genuinely among the best in the Bunde...

The 10 most underrated Bundesliga players in 2026

8Feb

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Analysis

The 10 most underrated Bundesliga players in 2026

The Bundesliga is one of the most overlooked leagues in European football despite being one of the four most popular around the world in terms of overall interest, and while it lacks the same star power it has in the past, part of that is because so many of their best players do not get their deserved plaudits. Here are 10 Bundesliga standouts currently in the 2025/26 season who are massively underrated and deserve a lot more praise, attention, and transfer consideration from other clubs around European football. Hoffenheim CM Wouter Burger Most fans have not heard of Wouter Burger, but diehard Bundesliga supporters know that the young Dutch midfielder has been one of the best overall players in the league this season. He is an ideal deep lying playmaker with his ability to score...

The 10 best young Bundesliga stars available on the summer 2026 transfer market

7Feb

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Analysis

The 10 best young Bundesliga stars available on the summer 2026 transfer market

The Bundesliga has always been a haven for producing young footballing talent for all the leagues in world football, and the Premier League, in particular, have become fond of plucking the newest budding young talent from the German top flight. As 2026 continues, here is a look at 10 young stars in Germany who are worth watching closely and should be available in the upcoming summer 2026 transfer window when June hits. RB Leipzig LW Yan Diomande From Bundesliga kings Bayern Munich to Premier League clubs Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, Yan Diomande is going to have no shortage of suitors in the summer transfer window as one of the brightest young prospects on the wings in European football. Everyone is after explosive young wingers who can beat their man and produce goal...

Ranking the 15 best goalkeepers in world football in 2026

25Jan

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Rankings

Ranking the 15 best goalkeepers in world football in 2026

You would think the goalkeeper position would be the easiest to evaluate on the football pitch, because, well, goalkeepers are more stationary than other players and can be largely evaluated on how successful they are at stopping the other team from scoring. But it isn't really that simple. Although goalkeepers are primarily asked to make saves, ask any Manchester United or Tottenham Hotspur fan how much having a goalkeeper who does not command the box well or makes basic errors in possession can totally destroy your team's sense of stability. There is also the matter of reputation. Many goalkeepers can skate by on a reputation built up over the years of greatness, whereas some younger goalkeepers find it more difficult to gain a foothold for this reason. Finally, there is the mat...