The Yellow Wall: MBFranchise's Borussia Dortmund Super League

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The Yellow Wall

[MBFranchise]

European Super Premier League Preview

Top of the Table
FC Bayern Munich
FC Barcelona
Real Madrid
Chelsea
Manchester City
Juventus

Mid Table
Manchester United
AC Milan
Borussia Dortmund
Roma
Arsenal
PSG
Atletico Madrid

Bottom of the Table
FC Shakhtar
Liverpool
Tottenham
Zenit
FC Schalke
Everton
Valencia

Predictions
League Champion: FC Bayern Munich
Biggest Surprise: Roma
Biggest Disappointment: PSG
Cellar Dweller: Valencia
Golden Boot: Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid
MVP: Lionel Messi, Barcelona
Clean Sheets: Thibault Courtois, Chelsea

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Borussia Dortmund Team Preview


Hummels and Reus are unquestionably two of the best players in the ESPL.

Strikers
9 Ciro Immobile 80
17 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 79
20 Adrian Ramos 79

BVB's biggest loss was up front. With Robert Lewandowski off to Bayern, Dortmund is left with question marks. Immobile and Ramos are new, and Aubameyang is used to playing wide instead of centrally. With so much uncertainty, many fans believe Immobile and Aubameyang will split time up top for BVB.

Attacking Midfielders
11 Marco Reus 86
16 Jakub Blaszczykowski 82
10 Henrikh Mkhitaryan 81
7 Shinji Kagawa 81
23 Kevin Kampl 77
14 Milos Jojic 75

Unquestionably the strength of this team. Reus is one of Europe's biggest talent, and his ability to play anywhere along the front will help Dortmund's versatility. Kuba is a Dortmund mainstay on the right side. Mkhitaryan is not Mario Gotze, but if he could at least come close that would be nice. Shinji Kagawa recently returned from Manchester United to find an open spot on the left side. Kevin Kampl is another new arrival, and his future is likely on either wing. Jojic is no doubt talented, but the question remains whether he can put it all together.

Defensive Midfielders
8 Ilkay Gundogan 83
6 Sven Bender 81
18 Nuri Sahin 81
5 Sebastian Kehl 78

Another area with strong depth, the defensive midfield will see 4 players rotate in 2 spots. Ilkay Gundogan, when healthy, is the best offensive playmaker on the team. On the other hand, many see him as the next to leave Dortmund for greener pastures. Sven Bender is solid as a true defensive mid, and Nuri Sahin is capable of completing long passes on the counterattack. Sebastian Kehl is a Dortmund legend.

Fullbacks
26 Lukasz Piszczek 82
29 Marcel Schmelzer 78
19 Kevin Grosskreutz 77
37 Eric Durm 73

Lukasz Piszczek is one of the best right backs in world football and is one half of the strong Polish tandem on the right hand side with Kuba. Schmelzer has been up and down on the left side and has surprisingly been pushed by both the heady Kevin Grosskreutz and the energetic Eric Durm.

Centerbacks
15 Mats Hummels 86
4 Neven Subotic 82
25 Sokratis 82
28 Matthias Ginter 77

Hummels is a well-deserved team captain, a real star and balanced center back. Neven Subotic and Sokratis are both in a battle for the other starting spot, but depth is a nice problem to have. Matthias Ginter is a new arrival, and he offers the versatility to play in the midfield as well.

Goalkeepers
1 Roman Weidenfeller 83
22 Mitchell Langerak 71

Weidenfeller is entrenched in the BVB goal, but Langerak shows potential for the future. However, this is one area Dortmund may look to make a move in the future with lots of young, talented German keepers hanging around the former Bundesliga.

Manager
Jurgen Klopp

Klopp is one of the most energetic, and many believe best, managers in the European Super Premier League. His high pressing style fits this team, and several richer clubs are said to be interested in Klopp for the future.

Starting 11
Immobile
Kagawa - Reus - Kuba
Gundogan - Bender
Schmelzer - Hummels - Subotic - Piszczek
Weidenfeller

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Goals and Injuries as BVB Tops Valencia


Mkhitaryan was all smiles after his brace.

European Super Premier League

BVB 5-1 Valencia

(V) Piatti 12'
(B) Immobile 41'
(B) Gundogan 45'+
(B) Mkhitaryan 62'
(B) Mkhitaryan 77'
(B) Hummels 81'

MOTM: (B) CM Ilkay Gundogan 9.3 Rating

ST Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang broken elbow out 2 months
LB Marcel Shmelzer pulled hamstring out 5 weeks

Schmelzer's injury woes continued on the season's opening weekend.

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BVB Loses in Russia


Zenit's Danny was the best player on the pitch.

European Super Premier League

Zenit 2-1 BVB

(Z) Danny 11'
(B) Kuba 41'
(Z) Rondon 51'

MOTM: (Z) CAM Danny 7.6 Rating

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BVB Dominates Ruhr Derby


Shinji Kagawa fights off Dennis Aogo.

European Super Premier League

FC Schalke 0-3 BVB

(B) Gundogan 5'
(B) Reus 10'
(B) Jojic 88'

MOTM: (B) CM Ilkay Gundogan 8.5 Rating

CDM Sven Bender out 7 days pulled groin

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Shortlist
Our Look at Potential BVB Targets


Geis has already capped for the German Under-21s.

Johannes Geis
20 Years Old - CDM/CM - 5'11 179 lbs
FSV Mainz 05

Geis has made everyone in Germany take notice. His strong play with Mainz, and his unique ability to combine defensive strength with offensive quality, has made him a top target for BVB. Geis' ability to play anywhere in Dortmund's midfield triangle will make him appealing to Jurgen Klopp. Geis is a player that is quickly outgrowing his club, and he could serve as a strong replacement if BVB looks to move any of its current midfielders.

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Kampl Sparks Dortmund in ESPL Cup


Kampl answers questions after his MOTM performance.

ESPL Cup

BVB 3-1 Bayer Leverkusen

(B) Mkhitaryan 31'
(B) Jojic 34'
(L) Keissling 47'
(B) Kampl 74'

MOTM: (B) RM Kevin Kampl 8.1 Rating

CDM Nuri Sahin sprained ankle out 3 weeks


Sahin has an injury history when Dortmund plays Leverkusen.