Borussia Dortmund are one of the most storied clubs in the Bundesliga. Their history is full of unforgettable moments, both domestically and in Europe, that have helped the club become what it is today.
SBOBET is here to take a look back at all of those major moments in BVB history and the significance of those great achievements on the club.
1. 1966 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup win over Liverpool
When it comes to European success, Bayern Munich are clearly German football’s standard-bearers. The Bavarians claimed a hat-trick of European Cup titles in the ‘70s and made three more Champions League finals during the 2010s.
However, Bayern were not the first German club to taste European success. That distinction goes to Dortmund, who became the first Bundesliga side to take home European silverware when they won the 1966 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.
Unlike their dramatic Europa League quarter-final tie in 2016, Dortmund came out on top over English giants Liverpool in the final.
BVB took the lead through Sigfried Held just after the hour mark. But the Reds equalised through Roger Hunt seven minutes later. The match went into extra-time, and that was when Reinhard Libuda popped up with the winner for the Germans.
It would be decades before Dortmund would taste European success again, but that victory at Hampden Park would forever put them in the history books as Germany’s first European champions.
2. 1994-95 Bundesliga title on the last day
The 1994-95 season had one of, if not the most exciting ending to a Bundesliga campaign ever.
Dortmund had yet to win the Bundesliga and hadn’t claimed the German Championship since 1963, but they were so close to ending that decades-long drought.
They were only a point behind defending champions and leaders Werder Bremen heading into the final game of the season. Back then, a win was worth two points instead of three.
A draw would be enough for Bremen to secure the title, while Dortmund had to defeat Hamburg and hope Bremen would lose to Bayern Munich.
And as luck would have it, Dortmund’s great rivals did them a massive favour as they beat Bremen, 3-1.
Meanwhile, Dortmund held up their end of the bargain. Andi Möller and Lars Ricken both scored as they beat Hamburg 2-0 to claim their first Bundesliga title in dramatic fashion.
Dortmund would go on to successfully defend that title the following season and sealed their status as the top club in Germany.
3. 1997 Champions League final win over Juventus
Dortmund fell short of securing a hat-trick of league titles in the 1996-97 season. But that season was still a massive success as they claimed a much bigger prize: the Champions League.
Dortmund breezed through the knockout stage. They won both legs against Auxerre in the quarter-finals and did the same to Manchester United in the semis.
They were through to the final to face defending champions Juventus, who had thrashed Ajax 6-2 on aggregate in their semi-final tie.
But despite a star-studded attack featuring the likes of Alessandro Del Piero, Christian Vieri, and Alen Boksic, Dortmund stunned the Italians with a 3-1 victory.
Karl-Heinz Riedle’s two set-piece goals in the first half sent Dortmund on their way, while substitute Lars Ricken’s audacious chip on Angelo Peruzzi — with his first touch of the game — would make Bundesliga 2020 highlights if it happened today.
The fact that Dortmund became the first German winners of the Champions League at the Olympic Stadium, home of bitter rivals Bayern, made that victory all the sweeter.
4. 1998 Champions League quarter-final win over Bayern
The following season, Dortmund would face bitter rivals Bayern in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. It marked the first Der Klassiker ever in Europe’s top club competition.
The clubs played to a stalemate over the first 180 minutes, which meant extra time. And on the 19th minute of extra time, Dortmund striker Stephane Chapuisat scored the decisive goal with a beautiful volley to break Bayern hearts.
Bayern would get their revenge during their next meeting in the Champions League, which came in the 2013 final.
But despite that painful defeat, Dortmund can still cling on to that first triumph over their rivals back in 1998.
5. 2012 DFB Pokal win over Bayern
Much like in recent years, the Bundesliga 2020 odds have tilted toward Bayern Munich. But back in 2012, Dortmund had regained the upper hand over their rivals.
With Jurgen Klopp at the helm, Dortmund secured a second consecutive Bundesliga title with a then-record 81-point tally.
They also reached the final of the DFB Pokal, a competition they hadn’t won since 1989 and were set to meet rivals Bayern.
That final turned out to be the defining match in Klopp’s Dortmund reign. Thanks to a Robert Lewandowski hat-trick, Dortmund dominated their rivals en route to a 5-2 victory, sealing their first-ever league and cup double in the process.
As Klopp said after the match, “That evening in Berlin was one of the moments in the 103-year history of our club.”
Dortmund haven’t quite been able to reach those great heights since, but with bright young stars Erling Braut Haaland, Jadon Sancho, and Giovanni Reyna leading the charge, success may be just around the corner for the Yellow Wall.
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