Donyell Malen is suspended for Borussia Dortmund’s trip to Union Berlin after accumulating his fifth yellow card. But as BVB’s in-form performer in the Bundesliga, who should replace the Dutchman? Operating in the wide areas, Malen has five league goals in his last five games for Dortmund, and is finally looking every part the player Die Schwarzgelben spent €30m on in July 2021.
Let’s assume that both Jadon Sancho and Marco Reus would start again Union. Kicker have selected Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Karim Adeyemi, Julien Duranville, Marius Wolf and Julian Brandt as the options to replace Malen.
Bynoe-Gittens has five goal contributions (one goal, four assists) in 651 league minutes for Dortmund this season, and would appear to be the primary candidate to take Malen’s place. But the Englishman has played just 26 minutes over his last two games, and often blows hot and cold. At the moment, scoring goals isn’t a part of Bynoe-Gittens’ game, but the 19-year-old has the exceptional ability to run at opposing defenders and to progress the ball.
Adeyemi has struggled this season and is yet to score in the Bundesliga but after recently returning from an injury, could be a candidate to return to the starting eleven. The 22-year-old needs a confidence boost and a start against Union could do just that. Duranville meanwhile has also returned to the squad after returning from injury, and possesses neat dribbling and explosive pace. The potential is there, but a start for the Belgian would seem unlikely.
As for Brandt, he often operated in the wide areas last season for Borussia Dortmund, and could again be utilised in a similar role against Union. Brandt played the full 90 minutes against Hoffenheim last weekend alongside Marcel Sabitzer but should Edin Terzić move the 27-year-old in an advanced role, it would allow Emre Can to revert back into midfield, should Mats Hummels or Niklas Süle return in defence.
