The Daily Bee (December 23rd, 2019): Changes are coming after a disappointing first half

• Matchday 17

BVB ended the Hinrunde with a very disappointing loss to Hoffenheim which means they will end this year in fourth place. Two late collapses against RB Leipzig and TSG Hoffenheim have taken Dortmund out of the title race for now. A lot of football remains to be played but a lot of things have to change if the black and yellows want a shot at some silverware.

RB Leipzig finish the first half of the season in first place. A comfortable 3:1 victory over FC Augsburg gives them a two-point lead going into the Rückrunde.

Borussia Mönchengladbach still had a shot at first place but a goalless draw against Hertha BSC Berlin means they’ll stay in second place. Bayern Munich won 2:0 against VfL Wolfsburg and finish in third, despite trailing Leipzig by 4 points they will likely be their biggest competition for the title.

Schalke 04 missed the chance to pass BVB in the table with their 2:2 draw against SC Freiburg, who remain the biggest surprise this season. Bayer Leverkusen round out the top 6 with their 1:0 win in Mainz.

SC Paderborn remain at the bottom of the table but they do end their year on a high note with their 2:1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt. Werder Bremen finish in the relegation zone after losing to 1.FC Köln. The Norther Germans are the biggest disappointment this season so far but they have had terrible injury luck. They could easily bounce back in the second half.

• Marco Reus got married

Congratulations to Marco Reus and Scarlett Gartmann, the couple got married during the winter break!

• Changes coming for BVB (WAZ)

A disappointing first half of the season has come to an end and changes are coming for Borussia Dortmund. According to WAZ several players will be allowed to leave, among them Julian Weigl, Mahmoud Dahoud, Mario Götze and Jacob Bruun Larsen. All of them had very limited playing time and don’t seem to have a spot in the regular rotation with the exception of Weigl who did start a few games. However, once Axel Witsel is back he will also find himself back on the bench.

Paco Alcacer is also unsatisfied with his current role in the team - and probably unhappy with the fact that Dortmund are looking to add a striker - but he will not be allowed to leave in January.