Match Report
BVB Grinds Out Another Home Win Behind Nmecha’s Brace
Three days after the UEFA Champions League match against Real Betis, Niko Kovac made three lineup changes, with Gadou, Chukwuemeka and Karetsas coming on for Bensebaini, Ryerson and Guirassy. Just as he had done in the second half of the 2-2 draw at Bayern, the BVB Head Coach opted for a 4-3-3 formation. Meanwhile, Elversberg defended in two compact blocks, switching between a 4-4-2 and a 4-5-1 formation when defending, staying alert at all times, breaking up promising passes into space through remarkable positioning, and creating dangerous looks on the counterattack time and time again — especially toward the end of the first half.
Only once did things go sideways for SVE in the first half hour. Fabio Silva saw that Kristof was too far off his line and took a shot from the center circle, beating the 'keeper but hitting the outside of the netting on the right (16').
When Dortmund had possession, Daniel Svensson moved into the half-space on the left, creating a numerical advantage in midfield. About 30 minutes in, BVB’s play became a bit more dynamic, as the Black & Yellow created chances for Fabio Silva and Felix Nmecha. After Silva fired wide in the 29th minute, Nmecha sent a header sailing over the goal (32'). Each team was forced to make an early substitutions in the match. Maxi Beier replaced Carney Chukwuemeka (34'), and Elversberg's backline anchor Lukas Pinckert also had to come off injured (38').
Seconds after the break, Nico Schlotterbeck headed Joey Veerman’s delivery across the face of the goal, finding Jobe Bellingham, whose effort from 13 meters (roughly 14.2 yards) out lacked the necessary finishing touch (46'). At the other end, Francis Onyeka’s header on a free kick also went narrowly wide. Then, on a counterattack, Konstantinos Karetsas found Fabio Silva, but the Portuguese's shot from a very tight angle was blocked by Nicolas Kristof (49'). The opening three minutes of the second half produced more scoring chances than the entire first half had.
After a long ball from Veerman, Silva cut into the penalty area from the left wing. However, with two Elversberg defenders closing in, he struggled to get a shot off and instead laid it off to Nmecha, who unleashed from 19 meters (roughly 20.8 yards) out and found the bottom left corner for 1-0 (55'). Kobel then prevented a quick equalizer with an excellent save on Petkov’s long-range free kick (61').
The Black & Yellow found themselves reeling during this phase, as Elversberg created numerous chances in the penalty area. Kovac responded by subbing on Julian Ryerson and Ramy Bensebaini and by switching to a back three/five. On a counterattack, Silva was denied by the goalkeeper (69') and Beier by the defense, but the rebound fell to Nmecha, who rifled it home from 23 meters (roughly 25.2 yards) out. The midfielder's 124 km/h (roughly 77 mph) bullet left Kristof without a chance (71').
Depsite Nmecha's second goal, the conclusion to the match would turn out far from boring. After a corner kick from the left was taken short, a cross found its way into the box, and Le Joncour used his head to lay the ball off to Futkeu. The attacker cut his side's deficit in half by way of a spectacular scissor kick (81'). Ryerson subsequently made a key play, sending the ball behind for a corner kick (85'), and then Marcel Sabitzer was struck in the hand just outside the box. Keidel went for goal on the ensuing free kick from 20 meters (roughly 21.9 yeards) out, but Nmecha managed to get his head on the ball (90'+1).
BORUSSIA DORTMUND vs. SV ELVERSBERG 2-1 (0-0 at half)
Bundesliga, Matchday 9
Saturday, November 7, 2026, 15:30 CET
BVB: Kobel – Gadou (67’ Ryerson), Anton, Schlotterbeck, Svensson – Veerman – Bellingham (86’ Sabitzer), Nmecha – Karetsas (67’ Bensebaini), Fabio Silva (86' Nwaneri), Chukwuemeka (34' Beier)
Bench: Meyer, Reggiani, Albert, Inacio
Absent: Can (recovery training after cruciate ligament tear), Guirassy (muscle strain), Konstantelias (cruciate ligament tear)
SVE: Kristof – Sirch (78' Mickelson), Pinckert (37' Le Joncour), Rohr, Günther (78' Adam) – Keidel, Poreba – Petkov, Onyeka (67' Campbell), Krattenmacher (78' Futkeu) – Mokwa
Bench: Boss, Condé, Schmahl, Schnellbacher
Goals: 1-0 Nmecha (55', from Silva), 2-0 Nmecha (71'), 2-1 Futkeu (81', from Le Joncour)
Yellow cards: Nmecha, Silva – Günther
Referee: Osmers (from Hannover)
Attendance: 81,365 (sellout) at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK
Boris Rupert
