Jamal Musiala’s goal in the season’s final match changed everything for Borussia Dortmund at the end of the 2022–23 season. They were in a commanding position to win the league after a decade. However, things were not in their favour, and the team had to settle for second place.
This time, they had different ideas and wanted to build momentum. After winning the first game, Edin Terzic’s side had to settle for a draw in the next two games, with one coming against a newly promoted side. This is not what the fans expected. Let’s take a look at some of the stats that show why the team struggled at the start of the campaign.
Failure to convert chances
Borussia Dortmund’s failure to convert their chances is one of the reasons why they are not at the top and competing with the likes of Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen. After a narrow 1-0 escape in the first match, the team had to make a comeback against Bochum in the second match. That match also saw Dortmund score just one goal. Overall, the team averages 14 shots per match and has a 31% accuracy rate.
Borussia Dortmund’s last match was against newly promoted Heidenheim. They got a two-goal lead in the first half, only to concede two in the second half. This match had some of the positives from the first two games. The team attempted 19 shots, and eight were on target.
However, things were not the same in the first two encounters. 23 shots were attempted combined in the opening two fixtures, and only five were on target. Despite having an average xG of 2.48 per match, the team has a low scoring rate. One of the primary reasons behind this is the inability to finish chances from just outside the six-yard box.
Borussia Dortmund have scored three goals from open play and one from the penalty spot. The above visual shows the shot assists that were made by the team in the 2023–24 season. This shows that Dortmund have created most of the chances from the right side. There is less productivity on the other end. Some of the chances even came from corners. Once again, their conversion rate is put into question. The passes delivered in the above visual clearly state that the players have failed to convert some easy chances.
Leaking goals
Borussia Dortmund’s opponents have shown more accuracy on the field than them. They average 13 shots per match and have a 38.5% accuracy rate. The above viz shows that the team has faced most of the attacks from the right side of their defence. The goals came from very difficult angles. Their opponents have also been the same when it comes to converting chances.
Edin Terzic will demand a positive response from his team when they return after the international break. They face Freiburg away, before travelling to Paris for their Champions League game.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine
