{"id":1165772,"date":"2020-09-19T19:58:33","date_gmt":"2020-09-19T18:58:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1165772"},"modified":"2020-09-19T20:21:38","modified_gmt":"2020-09-19T19:21:38","slug":"borussia-dortmund-gladbach-bundesliga-analysis-sancho-haaland","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/borussia-dortmund-gladbach-bundesliga-analysis-sancho-haaland\/","title":{"rendered":"Borussia Dortmund’s title challenge will be powered by an English-born quartet this season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Borussia Dortmund got their Bundesliga season underway with a superlative 3-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach in front of a limited home audience.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lucien Favre’s men, who are chasing a first championship since Jurgen Klopp’s all-conquering black-yellow squad, had to watch rivals Bayern Munich humble regional nemesis Schalke 04 which must have been somewhat demoralising.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, this youthful side (laced with plenty of experience), went about their business and in the process accepted the challenge in what should be another gruelling campaign. Today’s victory though was hardfought as Gladbach, whom Favre previously coached with some distinction, posed some difficult questions which BVB’s bright future expertly answered.<\/p>\n

Each of their emerging stars proved to be productive either in terms of finishing or creating. For example Dortmund ended the game with 10 shots on goal, but 80% of those efforts coming from what could turn out to be their own ‘fab four’ (currently boasting an average age of 18.5), they say you’ll never win anything with kids’ and this season is their chance to prove that wrong.<\/p>\n

Evolution not revolution<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Normally there\u2019s plenty of chances made after enduring a disappointing year, but in Dortmund\u2019s case they\u2019ve repelled any knee jerk reaction, whilst staving off reported moves for their prized assets. The powers that be, however, dipped into the summer transfer market and succeeded in acquiring the services of much vaunted English midfielder Jude Bellingham, strongly linked with Manchester United, and who doesn’t turn 18 until next June. The native of Stourbridge, after signing from boyhood club Birmingham City, would have expected to ease his way into BVB’s first-team but after impressing in preseason manager Favre didn’t hesitate to put him in the club’s opening lineup.<\/p>\n

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"@BellinghamJude<\/a>, Du machst heute Dein erstes Bundesliga-Spiel. Von Beginn an."<\/p>\n

JB22: ?? pic.twitter.com\/fP7I3ilfO0<\/a><\/p>\n

— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) September 19, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n