Ramy Bensebaïni played a key role in Borussia Dortmund’s 3-0 home victory over Holstein Kiel on Saturday, a result that confirmed the club’s fourth-place finish in the Bundesliga and qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League.
The win marked a positive end to a turbulent campaign for Dortmund, who struggled for consistency for large parts of the season.
Despite a challenging period in which their European hopes appeared in jeopardy, a late resurgence saw the team stabilise and secure a top-four spot—ensuring their presence in the Champions League for the tenth consecutive season.
For Bensebaïni, who missed the latter stages of this season’s Champions League campaign due to a knee injury, the news offers a renewed opportunity to feature in Europe’s elite club competition.
The Algerian international has now been cleared for a return to full competitive action and is expected to play a significant role in Dortmund’s European ambitions next term.
Should he appear in next season’s Champions League, it will be the fifth time Bensebaïni has competed in the tournament during his professional career.
Dortmund, who reached the final in the 2023–24 season before falling 2-0 to Real Madrid at Wembley Stadium, will once again aim to challenge for the title.
This season, Bensebaïni showed marked improvement in his form and reliability. Despite injury setbacks, he managed to contribute consistently when fit.
Over the course of the campaign, the 29-year-old featured in 44 matches across all competitions, starting 32 of them. His offensive contributions included three goals and seven assists—an impressive return for a left-back.
Having overcome the physical setbacks that ruled him out of crucial European ties earlier in the season, Bensebaïni has silenced critics and re-established himself as a vital part of Edin Terzić’s squad. His blend of defensive discipline and attacking output has been crucial to Dortmund’s late-season form.
Attention now turns to the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, which will take place in the United States from 15 June to 13 July 2025.
The competition, expanded to 32 teams under its new format, will see Dortmund compete in Group F alongside South America’s Fluminense FC, South Korea’s Ulsan HD, and South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
For Bensebaïni, the Club World Cup represents another platform to showcase his talent on the global stage following a season in which he has demonstrated both resilience and quality.
Dortmund’s inclusion in the tournament reflects their status as one of Europe’s leading clubs, and with the Algerian defender back in action, they will look to make a deep run.
The end of the Bundesliga campaign, therefore, brings both relief and optimism for Bensebaïni and Dortmund alike.
After a season of fluctuating fortunes, their place in next year’s Champions League and participation in the revamped Club World Cup signals a new chapter—one in which Bensebaïni is set to play a central role.
