Match Report
Borussia embrace the fight to win 3-0 in Berlin
Personnel matters:
There were four changes to the starting line-up compared to the previous match away to Tottenham Hotspur: Can, Ryerson, Beier, and Fabio Silva replaced Bensebaini, Adeyemi, Brandt, and Couto (who all moved to the bench). Guirassy and Fabio Silva started together in the Bundesliga for the second time (previously on Matchday 14 in Freiburg). Sabitzer and Süle were absent due to injury.
The match:
From the very first second, it was the predicted battle with lots of tackles flying in, lots of long balls, especially from the Berlin club, and frequent changes in possession. Union had the first chance, “naturally” from a set piece. Ilic headed a free kick from Jovanovic towards goal from close range, but Kobel was there to make the save and hold onto the ball (6). He quickly got the ball moving again, as BVB immediately launched a counter-attack. The ball came to Guirassy, who skipped past two Union defenders and rounded the onrushing keeper, who brought the Dortmund striker tumbling to the ground – penalty! Can stepped up and converted low into the left corner to make it 1-0 (10).
Borussia were clearly in control at this stage and could have, perhaps should have, made it 2-0 in the 18th minute. Nmecha snatched the ball from Querfeld and slipped it to Guirassy, who was unmarked in front of Rönnow on the left side of the penalty area. However, Guirassy didn't pull the trigger, instead passing to Bellingham, whose powerful shot was blocked. Fabio Silva then sent the rebound wide of the left post.
After half an hour, Union were back in the game, keeping BVB away from their own goal with high intensity and making sure the game was evenly balanced until half-time. With the temperature at three degrees below zero, Borussia Dortmund found their way back to a more precise style of play at the start of the second half. Nmecha won the ball in his own half, drove it deep into the opposition's half and passed to Fabio Silva, who was running on the left and drilled a sharp low cross towards the edge of the penalty area. The ball ricocheted to Bellingham, who shot from 18 metres, but Rönnow parried it for a corner. Ryerson took the resultant corner, which Schlotterbeck met with a powerful header to find the back of the net and bring the score to 2-0 (54).
Until the start of the final quarter of an hour, Union had only had one shot in the second half – Borussia defended well, didn't shy away from any challenges and could have sealed the deal eight minutes before the end, but the lively Guirassy put Svensson’s cross over the bar. However, Beier made no such mistake just seconds later from an assist by Bellingham. After an impressive first touch to control the ball, he fired a low shot into the net to bring the final score to 3-0 (84).
Outlook:
The third “English week” of the year is coming up, with home matches on Wednesday (21:00 CET, DAZN) against Inter Milan and on Sunday (17:30 CET, DAZN) against 1. FC Heidenheim.1. FC UNION BERLIN 0–3 (0-1) BORUSSIA DORTMUND
Bundesliga, Matchday 19
Saturday, 24 January 2026, 18:30 CET
Union Berlin: Rönnow – Doekhi, Querfeld, Diogo Leite (76, Burke) – Haberer (86, Trimmel), Khedira, Kemlein (76, Schäfer), Juranovic (66, Nsoki) – Jeong, Ansah (66, Burku) – Ilic
Substitutes: Raab, Markgraf, Preu, Bogdanov
Bor. Dortmund: Kobel – Can (69, Anselmino), Anton, Schlotterbeck – Ryerson (90+2, Mane), Bellingham, Nmecha (90+2, Özcan), Svensson – Beier, Guirassy, Fabio Silva (79, Chukwuemeka)
Substitutes: Meyer, Adeyemi, Couto, Brandt, Bensebaini
Goals: 0-1 Can (10, penalty, Rönnow foul on Guirassy), 0-2 Schlotterbeck (54, corner, Ryerson), 0-3 Beier (84, Bellingham)
Bookings: Can
Referee: Hartmann (Wangen)
Attendance: 22,012 (sold-out) at the Alten Försterei
Boris Rupert
