Dortmund’s cup victory boosts Brandt hopes for league title

Berlin: Borussia Dortmund midfielder Julian Brandt says he hopes his side’s 2-1 midweek win over Borussia Moenchengladbach in the German Cup will mark a turning point in the season.

While some had the black and yellows as favourite to win the Bundesliga after an aggressive off-season recruitment effort, Dortmund sit in fifth place after nine rounds, with four wins, four draws and a loss.

New recruit Brandt scored two goals in three minutes in the second half of the German Cup tie, a welcome return to form for a player who had scored only once in 12 appearances for Dortmund prior to Wednesday night. With pressure mounting on coach Lucien Favre, and a mounting injury list, Brandt said the win was just the tonic Dortmund needed.

“These games, these difficult games, give you a lot of confidence,” said Brandt.

“We are a young team, and we definitely have a lot to learn. We don’t do everything right, but if you can manage to win despite these difficulties, it’s like a balm for the soul. And if you win, the pressure will of course subside.”

Brandt himself had come in for stinging criticism after his performance in the Champions League against Inter Milan the previous week. Michael Rummenigge criticised Brandt’s attitude and commitment in the loss to their major group rivals.

Brandt was unconcerned about any criticism he or the team may face for their performances, saying that difficulties were important in steeling the team for the challenges ahead.

Borussia Dortmund welcome fourth-placed Wolfsburg to Signal Iduna Park on Saturday afternoon ahead of next week’s Der Klassiker showdown away against rivals Bayern Munich.

Dutch winger Javairo Dilrosun has been a shining light in what has been a difficult season for Hertha Berlin, scoring three and assisting two in six games.

Dilrosun will be crucial for Hertha as they make the trip to neighbours Union Berlin for the first ever top-flight derby between the two teams from the German capital.

Agence France-Presse


German League fixtures (all times 1330 GMT unless stated)

Saturday: Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Moenchengladbach, Werder Bremen vs Freiburg, Eintracht Frankfurt vs Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig vs Mainz, Borussia Dortmund vs Wolfsburg, Union Berlin vs Hertha Berlin (1630)

Sunday: Fortuna Duesseldorf vs Cologne, Augsburg vs Schalke (1600)