Koln vs Borussia Dortmund 2018 (Cologne-BVB 2018)
Final score and result:- Koln vs Dortmund 2-3 (Zoller, Mere/Batshuayi*2, Schurrle)
Rhein Energie Stadium, Koln- 2 February, 2018
Michy Batshuayi scores twice on his Dortmund debut and also assists Andre Schurrle’s winner as they down bottom of the table Koln 3-2
Borussia Dortmund have opted to include Belgian forward Michy Batshuayi over Swiss defender Manuel Akanji in their Europa League squad for the knockout stages of the tournament. The rules of the tournament meant that manager Peter Stoger had to effectively chose between his two winter signings- a club can nominate only ONE player who has played a previous European Cup game (CL/EL) for another side (Batshuayi for Chelsea and Akanji for Basel in this case) in the same season.
BVB have therefore opted for Batshuayi, who joined them on loan from Chelsea as part of the deal that saw Aubameyang go to Arsenal and Olivier Giroud go to Stamford Bridge.
Stoger’s decision might have been influenced by BVB’s greater depth in defence- Dortmund have the likes of Sokratis, Toprak and Zagadou available to deputise for Akanji, while their striking options are more limited.
Dortmund will face Italian outfit Atalanta in the knockout stages of the EL, with both ties to be played later this month.
The decision will come as a disappointment to Akanji, who would’ve been playing Man City in the Champions League had he stayed with Basel. The Swiss outfit finished second in their group but Dortmund, who were drawn in a group of death alongside Spurs and Real Madrid, could not make it to the round of 16.
A bit of a transfer deadline day merry go round this one, but the three deals have finally been finalised. Dortmund’s Pierre Emerick Aubameyang has moved to Arsenal, who in turn have sold Olivier Giroud to Chelsea, who have loaned Michy Batshuayi to BVB! More interesting is the fact that it is apparently Arsenal who have paid Batshuayi’s loan fee.
Aubameyang becomes Arsenal’s record club signing, and Gunners fans will feel reasonably happy at having a proven goal scorer replace Alexis Sanchez. It also re-unites Auba with Henrikh Mkhitaryan, his former BVB teammate, who moved from OT to the Emirates as part of the Sanchez deal.
Auba will wear the No.14 shirt at Arsenal
Chelsea were linked to tall strikers all throughout the winter window, with names like Edin Dzeko, Andy Carroll and Peter Crouch rumoured to be moving to Stamford Bridge, and they’ve finally got one in the form of Olivier Giroud, who seems to play more like an old school English forward than a French one. The transfer fee being quoted is £18m- a bargain in this inflated market for a striker of Giroud’s calibre, some would say.
Giroud will wear the No.18 jersey at Chelsea
The final piece in this transfer jigsaw puzzle is Michy Batshuayi, who has been loaned to Dortmund till the end of he season.
Michy will wear the No.44 jersey at BVB.
Arsenal would not have got Aubameyang if Dortmund didn’t get Batshuayi, who in turn would not have been allowed to move if Chelsea didn’t sign Giroud!