After previously skipping over to Italy and Portugal, our next Scout Report for European Fantasy managers participating in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) Fantasy Game takes a shorter journey, with 2011 Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund coming under the microscope…

The Tactics

Jurgen Klopp’s Dortmund side broke onto the scene last year and never looked back. A side most youthful and exuberant started well and never let up as they won again and again -even putting the likes of the almighty Bayern Munich to shame- in their title winning campaign.

The loss of Nuri Sahin to Real Madrid is not one which has been taken lightly at the Westfalenstadion and while trying to find a like-for-like replacement is a fruitless endeavour, Dortmund have been able to add to their squad all the same. While sticking to the German formation du jour (4-2-3-1) Klopp now has options available to him to mix and match as injury, preference and form collide.

UEFA Average Position Map

The first-choice defence remains the same as that which conceded a mere 22 goals (almost half of the second best in the Bundesliga) last time around. Roman Weidenfeller (1) remains the final blockade inbetween the posts doing all he can as he was last season.

The partnership of Mats Hummels (15) and Neven Subotic (4) are the solid base on which the foundations of the Dortmund side are built around with Lukasz Pszczek (26) charging down the right-hand flank and Marcel Schmelzer (29) doing just the same on the opposite side of the pitch.

Further forward is where the slight hand of rotation can begin to show with a few of Klopp’s squad fighting out for a couple of positions. Last season, it was Sven Bender (22) who starred as the ball-winner alongside Sahin, but Sebastian Kehl (5) and new signing Ilkay Gundogan (21) are all fighting for a spot, though the latter is not of the same calibre as the now-departed Turkish maestro.

Three further midfielders are then employed to support the sole striker in various different ways. Mario Gotze (11) is a shoe-in for automatic selection and will be more frequently than not employed on the right hand side- equally adept playing out wide or coming inwards and using his abilities as a playmaker.

That leaves two spots and, once again, three main players competing for them with a competent back-up in Jakub Blaszczykowski (16) in times of woe. Shinji Kagawa (23) provides a strong goal threat from attacking midfield, Kevin Grosskreutz (19) is best called upon to provide width, while main summer signing Ivan Perisic (14) is a happy amalgam of all the aforementioned’s talents, having joined for 5 million Euros after shining for Club Brugge last season.

Lucas Barrios (18) is generally the number one forward but, having been intermittently injured since the summer, the burden has so far been left to the only real deputy in Polish international Robert Lewandowski (9) this season.

The Ones To Watch

Neven Subotic: Mats Hummels is the heart of the back-four and, ultimately, the better of Dortmund’s two centre-backs, but he comes at a premium price of 6.4 while his team-mate Subotic is just under a cool million cheaper. A smart investor will buy the more affordable option and put the spare money to good use. Full-backs Lukasz Piszczk and Marcel Schmelzer also come in at roughly the same figure so could be considered equally as opportune purchase.

Mario Gotze: Not that the country needs it -they’ve got Thomas Mueller, Mesut Ozil and Toni Kroos to name but a few supreme talents- but, in Mario Gotze, Dortmund have a world class player in the making. The 19 year-old looks every bit the player already and at 7.9 will offer the chance to double your investment with his craft and ingenuity. There’s a reason sides like Arsenal and Manchester United are keeping incredibly close tabs on this young man.

Shinji Kagawa: The Japan international hasn’t been having as strong a start to his 2011/12 campaign as he did in his rookie term last year. However, at just 6.9 in price he will provide more than enough spark to potentially light up Champions League squads over the next three Matchdays at least. Having some of his main competition in Grosskreutz and Perisic “Out of Position” in the worst way (down as forwards) it also makes it an easier choice.

Robert Lewandowski: As a long term, heck even mid to short term purchase, Lewandowski is a risky proposition. At 6.9, though, and with a question mark over whether his main striking foe will be thrown in at the deep end, the big Pole should be a more than cheeky “differential” ahead of the crucial home tie with Olympiakos next weekend.