Match Report
BVB fight to the end, but Bayern celebrate 3-2 win in headline match
Personnel matters
There were five changes to the BVB line-up compared to the match against Atalanta during the week: Nico Schlotterbeck, Yan Couto, Marcel Sabitzer, Karim Adeyemi and Fabio Silva started in place of Ramy Bensebaini, Julian Ryerson, Jobe Bellingham, Julian Brandt and Serhou Guirassy. In addition to top scorer Ryerson (11 assists), who was suspended after receiving one too many yellow cards, Carney Chukwuemeka (muscle problems), Niklas Süle and Filippo Mane were also missing.
The match
The Black & Yellows got off to a nervy start and spent the first 10 to 15 minutes on the back foot against dominant visitors who were practically playing in a 2-4-4 formation with extremely high full-backs. Even after the initial flurry, BVB were largely forced to defend. Frustratingly, any hard-won possession was quickly squandered by simple mistakes.
The shot count was 0-5 after 25 minutes – then Borussia took the lead with their first shot on goal! And as so often – in the eighth game in a row – a set piece helped: Nico Schlotterbeck headed Daniel Svensson's free kick into the net (26). Captain Emre Can had to receive lengthy treatment after a push from Konrad Laimer (40), but was able to continue until shortly before the half-time whistle. Ramy Bensebaini was already ready to come on as a substitute at the interval, but ended up coming on before the break and played on the right of the back three for the first time.
The second half was a thrilling affair. Felix Nmecha played in Svensson (50) and Maximilian Beier (53) with some fine passes, but neither of them could capitalise on the opportunities. Instead of Dortmund scoring a second, Harry Kane made it 1-1: Joshua Kimmich intercepted a short clearance, chipped the ball to Serge Gnabry on the left side of the box, who squared it to the Munich striker with his head, who then only had to tap it in (54).
The visitors from Munich continued to have more possession, but the Black & Yellows kept pushing forward, creating further good chances for Maximilian Beier (56) and Yan Couto (65). The ratio of shots was 4-4 in the second half at that point. Then Michael Olise sent Josip Stanisic into the penalty area on the right, who cut inside Schlotterbeck and took advantage of his outstretched leg to sell the ‘contact’ and go to ground. Penalty, Kane against Gregor Kobel, who got a hand to it but couldn't prevent the ball from going in (70).
Niko Kovac responded with a triple substitution: Samuele Inacio made his Bundesliga debut, while Brandt and Bellingham came on for Beier, Nmecha and Adeyemi (75). And BVB fought back. Couto pushed forward, Sabitzer crossed, Guirassy couldn't get to the ball in the centre, but Svensson did, scoring a spectacular goal to make it 2-2 (83). Shortly afterwards, Brandt teed up Guirassy, who narrowly missed the target. Instead of 3-2 for Dortmund, however, it was 3-2 for Munich. Bellingham's header from Olise's cross didn't clear far enough, and Kimmich was on hand to volley home (87).
Outlook
Next Saturday, also at 18:30 CET, Borussia Dortmund will face 1. FC Köln (live on Sky).
BORUSSIA DORTMUND 2–3 (1-0) BAYERN MUNICH
Bundesliga, Matchday 24
Saturday, 28 February 2026, 18:30 CET
BVB: Kobel – Can (45+5, Bensebaini), Anton, Schlotterbeck – Couto, Sabitzer, Nmecha (75, Bellingham), Svensson – Beier (75, Inacio), Adeyemi (75, Brandt) – Silva (67, Guirassy)
Substitutes: Meyer, Özcan, Kabar, Reggiani
Bayern Munich: Urbig – Stanisic, Upamecano, Tah, Laimer (90, Bischof) – Kimmich (90+2 Goretzka), Pavlovic – Olise (90+2 Olise), Gnabry (61, Musiala), Diaz – Kane
Substitutes: Bärtl, Ulreich; Guerreiro, Karl, Jackson
Goals: 1-0 Schlotterbeck (26, free-kick, Svensson), 1-1 Kane (54, Gnabry), 1-2 Kane (70, penalty, Schlotterbeck foul on Stanisic), 2-2 Svensson (83, Sabitzer), 2-3 Kimmich (87)
Bookings: Schlotterbeck
Referee: Jablonski (Bremen)
Attendance: 81,365 (sold-out) at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK
Boris Rupert
