On October 1, 2025, Borussia Dortmund hosted Athletic Bilbao at Signal Iduna Park in the UEFA Champions League, securing a 4-1 victory.
This was Dortmund’s first win in the competition this season, following a dramatic 4-4 draw against Juventus on Matchday 1. Athletic Bilbao, who suffered a heavy defeat to Arsenal in their opening game, remained winless.
Key Scorers and Timeline
28′: Daniel Svensson (Dortmund) – 1-0. On a quick counterattack, Karim Adeyemi broke free and set up Svensson for a low shot at the far post.
50′: Carney Chukwuemeka (Dortmund) – 2-0. At the start of the second half, Chukwuemeka fired a shot from a tight angle after a precise through ball.
61′: Gorka Guruzeta (Athletic Bilbao) – 2-1. Bilbao pressed and reduced the deficit with an opportunistic shot from Guruzeta.
82′: Serhou Guirassy (Dortmund) – 3-1. Guirassy’s deflected shot restored Dortmund’s two-goal lead at a crucial moment.
90+: Julian Brandt (Dortmund) – 4-1. Brandt sealed the victory with a resounding finish in stoppage time.
Dortmund dominated possession (58%) and created more chances (14 shots compared to Bilbao’s 10), although their expected goals (xG) was low at 1.08, compared to Bilbao’s 0.96, highlighting some inefficiency but precise finishing.
A boost to the standings, the three points give Dortmund four points from two matches (first in their mini-league, tied on points with Juventus, but ahead on goal difference). This consolidates their position in the expanded 36-team league phase, where the top eight teams advance directly to the round of 16 and the ninth to 24th teams enter the playoffs.
Unbeaten in all competitions (5 wins, 2 draws in 7 matches), Dortmund sits second in the Bundesliga. The victory relieves pressure after Juventus’ collapse and demonstrates the increasing depth of the squad, with brilliant contributions from Svensson and Chukwuemeka, who shine amid injuries to key players like Julian Ryerson.
No major injuries were reported, allowing for rotation ahead of a packed schedule (next match: Bundesliga vs. Freiburg on October 5). Coach Niko Kovac praised the team’s resilience but noted a “weak” 20-minute period, indicating areas where the defense needs to be strengthened. Long-term, this boosts confidence for tougher matches like the away game at Real Madrid in November.
Stuck on 0 points after two defeats (a resounding defeat to Arsenal previously), Bilbao has found itself in a precarious situation from the outset. They now face an uphill battle to secure a playoff spot, with their next Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk on October 22.
Without star striker Nico Williams due to injury, Bilbao struggled to generate creativity in attack, scoring just one goal despite dominating the second half. Their inability to capitalize on chances (for example, a disallowed goal for Robert Navarro) points to problems with finishing.
The defeat could dent morale in La Liga, where they sit in mid-table (seventh after seven matches). This puts pressure on coach Ernesto Valverde to integrate young players like Navarro more effectively. On the positive side, their comeback attempt demonstrates grit, but the absence of Williams (whose return is expected in mid-October) prolongs the challenges of recovery.
Dortmund’s victory was resounding but hard-fought, highlighting their attacking talent (scoring four goals for the second consecutive Champions League game), though it also exposed their occasional weaknesses, as Bilbao almost forced a repeat of the Juventus scare.
Guirassy emerged as the inspirational figure, not only with his goal but also with his defensive play, justifying his summer move from Stuttgart. Kovac admitted to having had some luck in weathering the storm: “We struggled for 20 minutes… Luckily, we scored the third at the right time,” but for 70 minutes, Dortmund controlled the game well.
