Borussia Dortmund are the second best team in Germany and the eighth best in Europe, according to UEFA's latest club ranking. It is the first time in 15 years that BVB have been among the continent's top ten. And although they are set for a year without hearing the Champions League anthem in Signal Iduna Park after four consecutive seasons in Europe's elite club competition, the Black and Yellows have plenty to look forward to in the Europa League.

"I don't have a problem with it at all. You start right at the bottom with qualifiers, then play-offs and the group stages. It's both exciting and appealing. And it's European football - there's a title up for grabs that really matters," said Ilkay Gündogan at the beginning of a European campaign that could involve up to 19 matches.

Wolfsberger AC will travel to Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park on Thursday as absolute underdogs: Didi Kühbauer's team is currently ranked in 234th position in the UEFA club ranking list - and takes on the role of likeable outsiders. An après-ski atmosphere involving a DJ and magical mountain huts on the grass were both off-pitch features of a first leg in which Wolfsberger seemed to be fighting for their lives at times. The home game against Borussia Dortmund saw the highest attendance in Wolfsberger AC's entire history. "We sold as many as 30,000 tickets for the match. I've never experienced anything quite like that before. I could hardly get to the training ground because so many people were there queueing for tickets," said coach Kühbauer.

At the halfway point of the tie, Kühbauer's charges are still in with a shout thanks to their dedication in the first leg and have already made their mark on the competition. It's "only" 1-0 to BVB, who go into the return leg with a slight advantage but still have work to do to reach the play-offs.

Tomorrow evening is all about progressing to the next round for BVB - and getting another point in the five-year rankings. One more point would see them leapfrog Arsenal into place seven in the rankings...

Boris Rupert