Borussia Dortmund dropped its first points of the Bundesliga season in a chaotic 2–2 draw against Werder Bremen at the Signal Iduna Park, DAZN reported. Despite dominating large stretches of the match and building a two-goal lead late in the second half through Daniel Svensson and Nico Schlotterbeck, Niko Kovac’s side conceded twice in the dying minutes, capped by an equalizer from former Dortmund striker Niclas Füllkrug.
How Borussia Dortmund and Werder Bremen lined up after the international break
The fixture marked the return of the German Bundesliga following a three-week pause for UEFA Nations League matches. Despite the disruption, Dortmund manager Niko Kovac handed midfielder Marcel Sabitzer his first start of the season in a 3-4-3 formation, deployed as a left winger. Sabitzer had previously agreed to skip Austria’s international camp to manage his workload, returning alongside defender Nico Schlotterbeck, who had departed the German national team setup with a right ankle issue.
Why Borussia Dortmund dominated possession without finishing early chances
Throughout the first half, Borussia Dortmund controlled nearly 75 percent of the ball against a deeply entrenched Werder Bremen defense. Yet, clear opportunities proved scarce. Niclas Füllkrug threatened early for the visitors in the 18th minute, heading a cross from Marco Grüll just wide of the target. Dortmund responded when Sabitzer curled a 35-meter free-kick inches past the left corner in the 39th minute. Just before halftime, Bremen goalkeeper Karl Hein denied Maxi Beier after an exceptional chip pass from Ethan Nwaneri.
How a wild closing sequence turned a two-goal lead into a stalemate
The second half followed a similar pattern of intense Dortmund pressure. Hein made crucial saves against Nwaneri and Serhou Guirassy, while a spectacular overhead kick by Nwaneri was disallowed for an earlier offensive foul by Waldemar Anton. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 80th minute when Serhou Guirassy bypassed Marco Friedl along the touchline, squaring for an untidy finish that allowed Daniel Svensson to poke home from close range. Five minutes later, captain Nico Schlotterbeck headed in a corner kick to make it 2.0 in the 85th minute, seemingly sealing the victory.
Werder Bremen refused to fold. In the 88th minute, Ludovit Reis drove forward unchecked through the midfield and struck a low shot off the left interior post past goalkeeper Gregor Kobel to narrow the deficit to 2.1.
What the standings and upcoming schedule look like for the BVB
Despite the setback, Borussia Dortmund remains at the top of the Bundesliga table with 13 points from five matches, holding a narrow margin over Bayern Munich, who dropped points with a scoreless draw against Schalke 04. Werder Bremen climbed to fourth place in the standings following the point earned in Dortmund. The fixture served as the opening match of a demanding autumn stretch for Dortmund. The team faces an extensive travel schedule exceeding 11,000 kilometers in October, beginning with a UEFA Champions League trip to Norway to face Bodö/Glimt, followed by a DFB-Pokal second-round rematch against Werder Bremen later in the month.
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