First from the second row: Julian Brandt and the season of contradictions

As of: October 23, 2025 7:12 p.m

Statistically speaking, Julian Brandt is having an outstanding season at BVB. But it’s not enough for more starting eleven appearances.

The world at Borussia Dortmund is generally okay. On Tuesday, BVB celebrated a 4-2 win at FC Copenhagen and remained unbeaten in their third Champions League game this season (two wins, one draw).

In the Bundesliga However, there was a small setback recently and the first defeat of the season. But that can definitely happen against a currently extremely strong FC Bayern. Especially since BVB can get a lot of good things out of this game. “We were the only team that was close to a point against FC Bayern in the last few weeks,” said sports director Sebastian Kehl after the game.

Midfielder Julian Brandt played a big part in this, coming on as a substitute in the 82nd minute and scoring the goal to make it 1-2 from Dortmund’s perspective just a few seconds later. However, BVB failed to score another goal.

Brandt is the second best scorer in the BVB team

In a figurative sense, Julian Brandt’s entire season can be summed up like this. Because statistically speaking, Brandt is having a strong season. However, this is not yet reflected in results or playing time.

Brandt was only allowed to start twice this season. He was substituted four times. Nevertheless, he is Borussia’s second best scorer with two goals and two assists. Only striker Serhou Guirassy has scored one more point with four goals and one assist, but was in the starting line-up in six games.

Only Kane is better than Brandt

One of Brandt’s statistics is even more impressive. The 29-year-old is involved in a goal every 67 Bundesliga minutes. This puts him in second place in the league. Only Bayern’s world-class striker Harry Kane is better (all 42 minutes).

“I’m just happy that I have him,” said coach Niko Kovac about Brandt before the game in Copenhagen. But why isn’t Brandt allowed to start more often? Especially since he was still an undisputed regular player last season with a total of 41 starting eleven appearances in 45 games.

According to Kovac, the scaphoid injury that Brandt sustained in the summer plays a crucial role. “He had a few problems with the hand injury, but the others in his position also did well,” explained Kovac. With Felix Nmecha, Pascal Groß and Marcel Sabitzer, Brandt has a lot of competition in the central midfield. Nmecha in particular drew attention again with his double pack in Copenhagen.

Poor performance in Copenhagen

Keyword Copenhagen: There Brandt was once again in the starting eleven and even led BVB onto the field as captain. However, Brandt then dived in the game, was not involved in any dangerous action and was substituted after 62 minutes. Brandt has only impressed as a starting eleven in the 2-0 win in Mainz, where he assisted on both goals.

“In Mainz he came out of nowhere and decided the game,” said Kovac. “In the future he will definitely play again from the start.” Whether this will be the case on Saturday (6.30 p.m.) in the home game against 1. FC Köln is questionable after the performance in Copenhagen.

However, fluctuations in performance are something that lasts almost throughout Brandt’s time at BVB. Sometimes he is the outstanding player on the pitch, sometimes he is invisible. That was also the case last season, when he only returned to top form towards the end of the season.

Find the leadership style

Former coach Nuri Sahin appointed Brandt vice-captain last season. A role that Brandt first had to find his way into, as he admitted in the summer. “I think that we have a very clear image of a leading player, especially in Germany. He has to stand like one in the wind, has to scratch, bite, be loud, have broad shoulders, and has to jerk someone off,” he said. “I tried it. But in the end I have to say, it did me more harm than good.”

He has now found his leadership style: “I’m not the one who shouts at Sabitzer, Groß and then Can on the pitch. But I have a very, very good connection with everyone on the team.”

Brandt’s contract expires at the end of the season

This season there is another mental component, as Brandt is in his final year of contract with BVB. Brandt’s comments on this are clear: “If there’s one thing I don’t think about, it’s my contract. We don’t need to talk about it until winter,” he said at the beginning of October.

However, an extension should not be a sure-fire success. According to “Sport Bild”, BVB has given all affected players a deadline of March to recommend themselves for a new working paper with good performances. In addition to Brandt, the contracts of Niklas Süle, Emre Can, Pascal Groß, Salih Özcan and Alexander Meyer are also expiring.

Purely statistically, Brandt is at least currently one of the key players at BVB. If this is soon reflected in consistent performance, starting eleven appearances and a contract extension should only be a matter of time.

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