Bundesliga 2018-19: 3 Things we learned from Der Klassiker

#2. Axel Witsel is a contender for ‘signing of the season’

Witsel has improved Dortmund greatly

In the summer, Borussia Dortmund signed the Belgian midfielder from the Chinese Super League. At that juncture, not many looked at the signing as an influential one. However, after more than a quarter of the season, it looks like one of the shrewdest pieces of business.

Last season, Dortmund lacked any physicality in midfield. Though Weigl is an elegant player, he doesn’t possess the raw strength of Witsel. With Witsel sitting in front of the back four, the attacking quartet of Dortmund have more freedom to wreak havoc.

Additionally, the Belgian is quite underappreciated as a passer. Against Bayern, he produced the pass of the game to set Alcacer on his way. Moreover, his ability to play around the press places him among the pantheon of the lead defensive midfielders on the planet.

Witsel is a classic Dortmund signing: not flashy, not costly yet equally efficient. If Dortmund are to break the Bayern monopoly this term, a lot will rest on the midfielder’s shoulders. If he comes up with similar performances to the one on Saturday, a first league title since the Klopp era could well be within reach.