Borussia Dortmund has not started the 2023–24 Bundesliga season like they had wished for. A narrow 1-0 win in the first match was followed by a 1-1 draw in the second match. After getting so close to the league title last season, Dortmund fans expected a better start.
One of the reasons behind this slow start is their form in front of the goal. Dortmund have struggled to find the back of the net. This is not a positive sign for a team that is looking to dethrone Bayern Munich. However, one of the players who has shown some positivity on the field is 24-year-old forward Donyell Malen. He scored the winner in the first game and then the equaliser in the second match. Here are some of the stats from the first two matches that show how this Dutchman was the saviour for Dortmund.
Getting on the score sheet
Donyell Malen scored the winner in the first game. It took 88 minutes for his side to break the deadlock. Malen only took one shot in that match and that was from inside the opposition’s six-yard box.
In the second match, Dortmund were trailing by a goal at the end of the first half. Malen attempted three shots and scored a long-range effort.
Everywhere in the final third
Donyell Malen starts on the right side of the attack for Dortmund. However, his heatmap shows that Malen covers a lot of ground in the final third. One area where he needs to improve and get more touches is inside the penalty box. Malen scored a goal with his only touch inside the penalty box in the first match. In the second match, he once again took only one touch inside the penalty box.
Despite playing on the right side, Malen has made more penetration carries from the opposite side. These also include 10 attempted passes into the opposition penalty box. Other than this, Malen has attempted 26 dribbles with a 38.5% success rate.
Donyell Malen’s passing has not been that effective. Most of the passes have linked the plays, especially on the right side. He has successfully delivered four passes in the opposition penalty box, but none have resulted in a shot.
Borussia Dortmund will be thankful to their attacker for saving the last two matches. This allows them to stay close to Bayern Munich, who have been dominant in the league. Dortmund know that the league winner could be decided on the final day, and they cannot afford to miss another chance to dethrone Bayern Munich.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine
