Dortmund's Four-Goal Comeback: Young Guns Shine as Copenhagen Falls in Europe’s Showdown
22 October 2025
Borussia Dortmund booked a 4-2 victory away to Copenhagen in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, a result that followed a difficult opening period and underscored the impact of Dortmund’s young talents after the break. The tide turned when the visitors moved the ball with more intent and found the back of the net twice in quick succession, transforming what looked like a nervy night into a confidence boost for the squad.
Sebastian Kehl, Dortmund’s sporting director, explained that the win came after a tough stretch and that the team’s second-half display, along with the performance of the young players, deserved praise. “This is the Champions League,” he noted, “and the atmosphere was electric. Copenhagen believed in themselves after the draw, but you have to endure those moments and stay composed.”
In the second half, Dortmund acted with greater conviction and clarity, and the club spoke afterward of being in a good position on seven points while having added four goals to their tally in the competition. The night also delivered a standout performance from Felix Nmecha, who hit a brace, while Fabio Silva came off the bench and struck his first goal of the night—an achievement given his recent return to fitness. The attackers’ combination play and late pressure finally paid dividends for a Dortmund side eager to prove a deep, dynamic squad can deliver when it matters most.
Nicko Kovac: Tactical changes and star-turns
Coach Nico Kovac pointed to a decisive tactical shift at the interval, acknowledging that Dortmund were slow to seize control in the first half. “We had to rejig and prepare the opponent,” Kovac explained, noting that the tempo and passing rhythm in the first half were not up to the standard required for this competition. The second half, he added, showed the team’s quality in abundance and justified the decision to press higher and move the ball with greater urgency.
He also highlighted the moment that changed the tempo—a penalty that made it 2-1 and gave the side a much-needed lift. “From that point, you could see the players turning up the dial,” Kovac said, summing up a night when Dortmund’s depth and decision-making under pressure stood out. He concluded with praise for Fabio Silva and a nod to Jobe Bellingham’s continued positive contribution, small signs that Dortmund’s future is already delivering value now.
The players’ notes (scorers)
Fabio Silva, who scored on his return to match-fitness, said that his teammates had done a lot to support him since returning from injury and that he felt fully fit again. “I’m grateful to the staff and my teammates; I’m trying to use my energy to help the team create chances, and I’m very happy with the goal,” he said.
Felix Nmecha, who struck twice, added that the team is in good form but knows there is room for improvement. “Things are going well with the goals, but we can be better. This was a very important win for us, and we must build on it and become better and better.”
Match notes and numbers
The evening featured a landmark night for Dortmund: their 317th European campaign match and their 200th in the Champions League, yielding 97 wins, 39 draws, and 64 defeats across those games. The club’s history in Europe has grown since the mid-20th century, with 18 of the 200 matches from 1956 to 1964 and the remaining 182 since 1995 in the modern CL era.
Dortmund are the second German club to reach 200 CL matches after Bayern Munich (410). In terms of play, Dortmund dominated possession (around 64%), while Copenhagen’s game plan remained aggressive in their approach (11 shots to Dortmund’s 9, five on target for Dortmund, four goals). This marked the first time Dortmund had four goals in three consecutive CL matches this season, following a 4-4 draw with Juventus, a 4-1 win over Bilbao, and the 4-2 result in Copenhagen. Twelve goals across those three games came from nine different scorers.
The stats also show Dortmund’s efficiency: every shot on target this season in the CL has found the net so far, with Silva’s 4-1 goal being the team’s 32nd of the campaign. Dortmund have lost only one of their last ten CL matches, and Kovac has remained unbeaten in his 12 CL group-stage appearances (nine wins, three draws)—a run only matched by a few coaching legends early in their careers. Nmecha’s first double came in his 20th CL appearance, while he became the first Dortmund player to score a double from outside the area in the competition. Ramy Bensebaini has a pristine penalty record (11/11) across clubs and the national team, a neat party trick that Dortmund’s squad can quietly enjoy. Dortmund are unbeaten in seven meetings with Danish opposition, and Copenhagen have yet to win at home against a German side in ten attempts (two draws, eight losses).
Humor note aside, the night belonged to Dortmund’s depth and their ability to deliver when it matters most. The goals, the milestones, and the mood all point toward a promising phase for the Black and Yellow as the group stage unfolds.
Punchline time, Sniper style: Dortmund’s finishing was so precise, even the goalie filed a restraining order against the net. Second punchline: when the second half came, Dortmund didn’t just wake up—they went full marksman and hit the bullseye with every shot.
