Page 47 - Soccer360 - Issue 103

Bochum
Last season saw Bochum avoid the drop to secure a third consecutive season in the Bundesliga - but only barely. Overall, the team who went through three different managers as they attempted to turn things around, won just 10 of their 34 matches; however, their seven points earned in their final three games ultimately proved the difference in securing their survival. Will they be so fortunate this time around? Ironically, one of their nicknames is die Unabsteigbaren (the Undescendables), so they just might - provided that other expected strugglers fare much worse. New signings such as Matus Bero and Felix Passlack should add more midfield steel to a side that conceded some 72 goals in 2022-23.
NICKNAME:
Die Unabsteigbaren (The Undescendables) Der Blau (The Blues)
MANAGER:
Thomas Letsch
LAST YEAR FINISH:
Bundesliga, 14th
Borussia Dortmund
Dortmund were heartbreakingly close to finally winning what would have been their first title in a decade, only to slip up on the final matchday when all they needed was to beat Mainz, as Bayern once again pipped them to the coveted prize. Die Schwarzgelben have had key players depart, namely young star Jude Bellingham, but have brought in some solid options to cover all areas, including Ramy Bensebaini, Marcel Sabitzer, and Felix Nmecha. In addition, striker Sebastian Haller, who missed out on most of last season due to a cancer diagnosis, has since recovered and will provide a much-needed boost for Edin Terzic’s title-chasing side. Even so, with Bayern looking stronger this time around, you wonder if they have missed their opportunity.
NICKNAME:
Die Borussen
Die Schwarzgelben (The Black and Yellows)
Der BVB (The BVB)
MANAGER:
Edin Terzić
LAST YEAR FINISH:
Bundesliga, 2nd
Dortmund’s Ramy Bensebaini (L) in action against Bochum’s Philipp Hofmann (C) during the German Bundesliga soccer match between VfL Bochum and Borussia Dortmund
After heartbreakingly missing out on the league title following a frustrating draw on the final matchday last season, how will Dortmund respond this time around?
DID YOU
KNOW?
The average Bundesliga attendance in 2022/23 was 42,966. That was over 2,000 more than the English Premier League, with Italy’s Serie A third on the list with 29,508; it was almost double that of France’s top division Ligue 1 (23,677).
SOCCER360 MAGAZINE 47
FALL BIG MATCHES
SEPTEMBER 3
Union Berlin v RB Leipzig
SEPTEMBER 15
Bayern v Bayer Leverkusen
SEPTEMBER 30
RB Leipzig v Bayern Munich
OCTOBER 7
Borussia Dortmund v Union Berlin
OCTOBER 22
Köln v Borussia Mönchengladbach (Rhine Derby)
OCTOBER 28
Bayer Leverkusen v SC Freiburg
NOVEMBER 4
Borussia Dortmund v Bayern (Der Klassiker)
NOVEMBER 11
Leverkusen v Union Berlin
DECEMBER 2
Bayer Leverkusen v Dortmund
DECEMBER 9
Borussia Dortmund v RB Leipzig
5 WHO
CAN
THRIVE
MICHELLE OSEI BONSU TAKES A QUICK LOOK AT FIVE PLAYERS WHO COULD HAVE A HUGE IMPACT FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE SIDES DURING THE 2023-24 BUNDESLIGA SEASON.
DAVID DATRO FOFANA - UNION BERLIN
The promising Ivorian youngster has moved from Chelsea to Union Berlin on a loan deal and will certainly be relishing his chance to possibly feature in the Champions League - as his parent club have missed out on European competition entirely. Fofana has already won silverware in his nascent career, as he scored 24 goals in 65 appearances for Norwegian side Molde en route to them winning the league title and Norwegian Cup.
HARRY KANE - BAYERN MUNICH
With a whopping 280 goals in just 435 appearances for Tottenham, it’s no surprise that Harry Kane is not only Tottenham’s all- time top goalscorer but also is the second highest goalscorer in Premier League history. What is shocking, however, is that the England ace never won a single title during his time with Tottenham. As such, given that he’s now 30, it is no surprise that Kane was keen on
a new challenge - and to finally win some silverware. It will be interesting to see how the union between Kane and Bayern pan out this season as die Roten have been desperately seeking a quality number nine to fill the huge shoes left behind by Robert Lewandowski.