Dortmund Dominate: Four-Goal Showdown Sends Them to a Confidence-Boosting Champions League Win
1 octobre 2025
Match Recap
Borussia Dortmund secured their first victory of the Champions League campaign this season, defeating Athletic Bilbao 4-1 on Wednesday night at the Signal Iduna Park, as the group stage matchday two unfolded.
The German side struck early in a four-goal burst from Daniel Svenson (28), Karni Shukoimka (50), Serhou Girassi (82), and Daniel Brandt (90), while Bilbao’s lone reply came from Gorka Guruzeta (61).
With the result, Dortmund moved to four points, sitting seventh after a 4-4 draw with Juventus in the opening round, while Bilbao remained winless after losing to Arsenal in the first game.
The opening minutes were cautious, with Dortmund focusing on their wingers and Bilbao trying to disrupt without offering clear chances.
In the 20th minute, Dortmund created the first real moment when Adeyemi released Sabitzer at the edge of the box, and the Austrian’s shot was saved by Simón.
Bilbao answered in the 22nd minute as Navarro rose highest to meet a cross, but headed narrowly over the bar.
Dortmund opened the scoring in the 28th minute as Adeyemi darted down the right and cut the ball back for Svenson to finish inside the box despite a touch from Simón.
A long-range effort from Dortmund’s players went narrowly wide in the 36th minute as the hosts pressed for a second.
By halftime, Dortmund led 1-0, clearly the more dangerous side in chances and possession.
The first half statistics reflected Dortmund’s control: five shots with three on target for Dortmund to Bilbao’s one.
Possession was 66% to 34% in favor of Dortmund, with 347 passes at 89% accuracy versus 184 passes at 79% for Bilbao, and Dortmund earned two corners to Bilbao’s none.
At the restart, Dortmund kept the initiative, while Bilbao coach Valverde ringed the changes with three substitutions early in the second half.
Dortmund doubled their lead in the 50th minute when Girassi fed Shukoimka inside the area, who fired low into the corner past Simón.
Bilbao searched for a way back in the 53rd minute with a shot from outside the box saved by Kobel, and a follow-up from inside the area went wide.
Dortmund continued pressing and almost made it 3-0 when a shot from the edge of the box by Bellingham clipped the bar in the 55th minute.
Bilbao pulled one back in the 61st minute after a defensive error left Guruzeta free to finish.
Kovac reacted by bringing on Brandt and Pier for fresh legs in the 63rd minute.
Dortmund restored the two-goal cushion in the 75th minute when Girassi’s effort was saved but Brandt followed up to poke home the rebound for 3-1.
In the 82nd minute, Svenson created space and set up Brandt for a close-range finish that Simon could only deflect into the net, making it 4-1 for Dortmund.
Two late substitutions kept Dortmund fresh as they navigated the closing stages, with the game effectively settled well before the final whistle.
Final score: Dortmund 4, Bilbao 1, a emphatic statement from the hosts in a high-stakes group stage night.
Humor break: If finishing like this was a sport, Dortmund would be a gym—lots of reps, a few sweat bands, and a tendency to leave the competition gasping for air. Punchline 1: The only thing sharper than Dortmund’s counter-press was my lunch choice—both leave me full and slightly confused. Punchline 2: After tonight, even their board will admit their opponents’ defense owes them a season-long apology.
