Nico Schlotterbeck is making history this season. The Borussia Dortmund center-back has netted five goals—a new personal best—and no other defender in the Bundesliga has scored more. That's the kind of form that keeps fans on their feet and defenders rethinking their game.

Schlotterbeck's performances are part of a bigger story at BVB. The Black and Yellows have a special connection with Eintracht Frankfurt, their most frequently beaten opponent in league history with 52 wins. And they're finishing the season strong: Dortmund have won 11 of their 16 matches in the second half of the campaign, compared to just ten wins in the entire first half. That's a serious turnaround.

The goals are coming from everywhere. Maximilian Beier notched his first Bundesliga double-assist game this season, and he was the fastest man on the pitch, clocking 34.82 km/h. Julian Ryerson, meanwhile, delivered his 14th assist of the season—a number only Jadon Sancho (16 in 2019/20) has topped for Dortmund in recent years.

There's also a touch of class in the captaincy. Julian Brandt wore the armband in his final home match for BVB, having led the team three times this season. In those games, Dortmund won every time without conceding a single goal: 3-0 against Union, 1-0 in Augsburg, and 4-0 against Mainz. That's leadership.

And when it comes to crossing, no one does it better. Dortmund have scored 15 times from open-play crosses this season—the most in the league and matching their own league-leading total from last year. Whether it's Schlotterbeck powering in from the back or Brandt pulling the strings, this team knows how to deliver.