THE SCENARIO: It is July 2016. Thomas Tuchel has stunningly resigned his position as Borussia Dortmund coach after just one season, reportedly in frustration at the club’s decision to allow Mats Hummels, Ilkay Gundogan, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan to leave this summer. German coach Dirk Lieber has been appointed as his successor but will he be able to challenge Bayern Munich’s supremacy in German football, or will the team from Westphalia have to settle for second place yet again?
Previous episodes: Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3
Prefer a different European league? Read our other series here: England – Premier League, France – Ligue 1, Germany – Bundesliga, Italy – Serie A, Spain – La Liga
1 October 2016
We’ve got some big games this month, starting with a visit to Leverkusen in the league. Matches against Hertha and Ingolstadt sandwich a big European game against Real Madrid, before another duel with Leverkusen; this time in the Pokal. We end the month with the Revierderby as Schalke visit Signal Iduna Park.
2 October 2016
Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund
After a draw in our last league match against Freiburg, we’re hoping to bounce back with a win against Leverkusen. I stick with the usual lineup, which means Chicharito will start on the bench against his former team. American youngster Pulisic comes in for the injured Dembele.
We don’t get off to the greatest of starts as a long range strike by Kevin Volland gives Leverkusen the lead. We could’ve been 2-0 down after 15 minutes but Volland miscues horribly to let us off the hook. We don’t create much and Reus is especially poor in the first half, so I replace him at halftime with Chicharito. We finally equalise on the hour mark as Aubameyang breaks down the left and crosses for Pulisic to tap in. Leverkusen hit the post later on, but it ends 1-1. We’re still top of the league, but Wolfsburg can leapfrog us if they win their game in hand.
15 October 2016
Borussia Dortmund vs Hertha Berlin
Hertha are up next in the league, and I opt to make a few changes ahead of the Champions League clash against Real Madrid. Durm comes in for Schmelzer, while Castro and Sahin start in midfield. Chicharito starts alongside Aubameyang as Reus drops to the bench.
We dominate this one from start to finish, and the only surprise is that we fail to make the breakthrough until first half stoppage time. Hertha keeper Rune Jarstein makes a string of saves, but can’t do anything about Piszczek’s driven effort. Pulisic scores his second goal in as many games after the break to make it 2-0, and Aubameyang nets a penalty to make it three. He has another chance from the spot later on, but Jarstein guesses correctly and saves it.
16 October 2016
Sahin drops by to tell me he is pleased with his playing time. That’s great, but I wonder if he is just trying to trick me into picking him for the next match.
19 October 2016
Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund
The next match in the Champions League is against the defending champions Real Madrid. I pick the usual back five, while Sahin starts in midfield against his old team with Weigl and Castro. Reus returns to the team in an attacking trio with Aubameyang and Pulisic.
A foul by Pepe on Reus early in the match results in a booking for the Portugal defender and a free kick in an interesting position. It looks too far from goal to trouble Keylor Navas, but Reus curls in an absolute beauty that gives the keeper no chance. We manage to hold on to the lead until halftime, but Real up the pressure and win a penalty early in the second half after Ronaldo is fouled by Sokratis. The Portugal captain makes no mistake, and it’s 1-1. It seems to be heading for a draw, but with 10 minutes remaining Sokratis redeems himself by leaping highest to head in a corner by Reus. We’ve stolen a 2-1 win at the Bernabeu which now gives us the advantage in the group.
22 October 2016
FC Ingolstadt vs Borussia Dortmund
Top vs Bottom as we play Ingolstadt. They’ve only collected two points so far and look like certainties for relegation even this early in the season. I rest some players and play the likes of Ginter, Bender, Durm, and Merino from the start. Even with almost wholesale changes we should still win this comfortably.
Merino opens the scoring with his first goal for the club after a clever pass by Chicharito. We almost score again, but early in the second half Ingolstadt equalise out of the blue through Mathew Leckie. Stung by the goal, we turn up the pressure and make our dominance count thanks to a brace from Chicharito and a late goal by Schurrle. 4-1 in the end, finally an emphatic result that matches the number of chances we create.
It’s not all good news though as a MCL injury to Bender means he will be out for 3 months. It’s unfortunate for him but not surprising; he’s struggled with so many injuries during his time here.
26 October 2016
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen
We’ve been drawn against Leverkusen in our first match of the Pokal. After three consecutive final defeats, we’re hoping to go one better this season. The seldom used Weidenfeller and Rode will start, as will Dembele after recovering from his injury. Chicharito starts up front as Aubameyang is given a rest.
Another free-kick, another Marco Reus beauty. The FIFA 17 cover star follows up his goal against Real Madrid with another great effort, although this time it’s much closer to goal. Unlike our league match against the same opponents earlier this month, we create plenty of chances. The problem is we don’t take them, and Leverkusen deliver a sucker punch when Omer Toprak equalises in the 81st minute. I start preparing for extra-time, but Dembele comes to the rescue. Aubameyang’s shot is spilled into his path, and the Frenchman makes no mistake with the rebound. Auba has a late chance to make it 3-1 but blasts his penalty wide of the goal. That’s now TWO misses from the spot this month for him. I think I’ll have to put someone else on penalty duties.
29 October 2016
Borussia Dortmund vs Schalke 04
A big, big game in the Revierderby against Schalke. Spoiler alert: We win, and one player scores four goals in this match. Aubameyang? Nope. Reus? Nope. Chicharito? Nope. Dembele? Pulisic? Gotze? Nope, nope, nope.
Don’t ask me how, but RAPHAEL GUERREIRO went full on beast mode and scored FOUR goals from FOUR shots while playing CENTRAL MIDFIELD. Maybe just watch the highlights. Oh and Schalke scored a goal but who really cares about that.
In the midst of my excitement, I forgot to mention that Auba picked up an injury and is out for 4 weeks. Pfffft. Maybe I’ll just play Guerreiro up front then.
Screenshots and videos taken from FIFA 17 by EA Sports
