Bundesliga
Dortmund delight in win over Bilbao
Goals from Daniel Svensson, Carney Chukwuemeka, Serhou Guirassy and Julian Brandt helped Borussia Dortmund to make it four UEFA Champions League goals in as many games with Basque side Athletic Club Bilbao swept aside at the Signal Iduna Park.
Borussia Dortmund 4-1 Athletic Bilbao
Goals: 1-0 Svensson 28’ (assist: Adeyemi), 2-0 Chukwuemeka 50’ (assist: Guirassy), 2-1 Guruzeta 61’ (assist: Ruiz de Galarreta), 3-1 Guirassy 82' (assist: Sabitzer), 4-1 Brandt 90'+1
The hosts were unbeaten in all competitions going into their second Champions League game of the season. With a wild encounter against Juventus on opening night in this tournament ending 4-4, Niko Kovač was keen to make sure his players were more focused in the opening 45 minutes against Athletic Club.
In an initial spell that contained little goalmouth action, a Marcel Sabitzer effort from distance which drew a smart save from Unai Simón sparked the Black-and-Yellows into life.
Svensson celebrated his first Bundesliga goal of the season when opening the scoring in BVB's win against Mainz at the weekend, and the Swede was celebrating a maiden Champions League goal 28 minutes into the contest when tapping home Karim Adeyemi's cross to the far post.
Niklas Süle twice took aim thereafter as Die Schwarzgelben kept up the pace in a first half in which the home side were never threatened.
If the first act went perfectly to plan for the 1997 Champions League winners, things continued to go Dortmund's way not long after the restart.
Ernesto Valverde made three changes at the break in order to help the Basques find their groove, but it was the home side who lit up the Signal Iduna Park once more when Chukwuemeka fired in at the near post after accepting an assist from the returning Guirassy.
It should have been plain sailing from there for Borussia, but when Gorka Guruzeta found the corner of Gregor Kobel's net with a powerful shot, Athletic were alive and suddenly hungry for more.
Roberto Navarro provided the fright of the night for the home fans when his effort narrowly missed the far post, while at the other end, substitute Brandt drew a monumental save from Simón.
Calm was then restored to Dortmund ranks when Guirassy - the Champions League's joint top scorer last season - netted his first of the competition for this campaign.
Their tails now up, BVB guaranteed their first three points of the 2025/26 league phase when Brandt powered home Maxi Beier's slick through pass.
Match stats
- This was the first competitive meeting between these teams. Their only previous encounter was a 2-0 pre-season friendly win for Bilbao in July 2021.
- Guirassy finished as the Champions League's joint-top scorer last season with 13 goals. He got off the mark in this season's tournament here.
- The Guinea international has scored 16 Champions League goals in his first 20 game sin the competition. Only Erling Haaland (25) managed more.
- Adeyemi is Dortmund's in-form attacker at present, with three goals and three assists across his last five competitive outings.
- Dortmund have now won each of their last eight home games in all competitions.
- This is Dortmund's 10th straight season playing in the Champions League. They have reached the knockout rounds in seven of the past nine campaigns.
Teams
Dortmund: Kobel (c) - Süle (Schlotterbeck 69'), Anton, Bensebaini – Ryerson, Sabitzer, Chukwuemeka (Brandt 63'), Svensson - Bellingham (Nmecha 69') - Adeyemi (Beier 63'), Guirassy (Fábio Silva 87')
Unused subs: Meyer, Yan Couto, Groß
Out: Anselmino (muscular), Can (groin), Duranville (shoulder), Özcan (ineligible)
Coach: Niko Kovač
Bilbao: Simón – Areso, Vivian (Laporte 46'), Laporte, Iñigo Lekue – Jauregizar Alejandor Rego (Ruiz De Gallareta 46') – I. Williams (c) (Guruzeta 46'), Navarro, Gomez (Serrano 63') - Sannadi (Ibon Sanchez 80')
Unused subs: Mikel Santos, Padilla, Sancet, Jesús Areso, Berchiche, Adama Boiro, Adrían Pérez
Out: Egiluz (knee), Prados (knee), N. Williams (muscular)
Coach: Ernesto Valverde
As it happened ...
4 - 1(1 - 0)
Dortmund
FINAL
Bilbao
90' +1
BVB home free
Beier feeds Brandt, who waltzes through and powers home Dortmund's fourth. Game, set and match.
89'
vs
Maximilian Beier
85'
Calming things down
With memories of Turin still fresh in their minds, Dortmund are looking to see this one out in a calmer fashion.
82'
Dortmund have daylight!
That might just be that! Serhou Guirassy has his first Champions League goal of the campaign after getting something on Marcel Sabitzer's effort at goal. 3-1 to the hosts now.
80'
What a save!
Julian Brandt was all set to celebrate there when his effort at goal looked in all the way, only for Unai Simón to pull off a magnificent save.
75'
Here come Dortmund
This game is now a little too frantic for those wearing Black and Yellow. That said, Guirassy draws a save from Unai Simon to take the pressure off the hosts.
72'
Athletic go close!
BVB fans had their hearts in their mouths there after Navarro got past Schlotterbeck before narrowly missing the far post with a dangerous shot.
70'
Freshening up
It's Schlotterbeck and Nmecha on now for BVB, who need to control the game in key areas in order to avoid the visiting side from gaining a stronger foothold than they already have.
69'
vs
Nico Schlotterbeck
Niklas Süle
68'
vs
Felix Nmecha
Jobe Bellingham
65'
Right back in it
The La Liga team look a different side now after that goal and Dortmund need to be wary of what happened in Turin on Matchday 1, when Die Schwarzgelben gave up a two-goal lead before having to settle for a point.
63'
Double swap
Niko Kovač brings Brandt and Beier in to try and reestablish Dortmund's dominance after that setback moments ago.
63'
vs
Julian Brandt
Carney Chukwuemeka
63'
vs
Maximilian Beier
Karim Adeyemi
60'
Visitors back in it
Having done so little during the entire game, suddenly Athletic Club are right back in the contest and it's Gorka Guruzeta who powers in Íñigo Ruiz de Galarreta's pass to the corner. Game on.
58'
vs
Gorosabel
55'
Bellingham tries one
The English midfielder attempts a shot from range but the ball hits Svensson and goes off target.
53'
Kobel to the rescue
Dortmund's goalkeeper has top be alert to keep a dangerous Maroan Sannadi whot out. Unai Gómez misses with the follow up.
50'
BVB cruising
Dortmund double their lead and the home fans are in dreamland. It's Carney Chukwuemeka's time for a first Champions League goal and he gets it with a near-post effort following some good work from Serhou Guirassy.
46'
Triple change
Visiting coach Ernesto Valverde makes sweeping changes at the break as he looks to produce a spark among the visitors, who were not at the races in the first half.
46'
vs
Guruzeta
I. Williams
46'
vs
Laporte
Vivian
46'
vs
Ruiz De Galarreta
Jaureguizar
46'
Back underway
The second half is go in Dortmund.
43'
vs
Paredes
40'
In command
Niko Kovač's side are well worth their lead here and along with creating all of the chances, are keeping the visitors in their pockets.
36'
Süle again!
Dortmund's man mountain fancies his chances of getting on the scoresheet this evening and he has another spank at goal, with his latest effort fizzing just wide.
34'
Süle has a pop
The giant defender slams an effort at goal but Simon is equal to it and can parry wide.
32'
Visitors awake
Athletic Club are beginning to come forward after going behind. Iñaki Williams tries to create some danger with a cross from the right, but Kobel gathers that with ease.
13s
On a run
That's Daniel Svensson's second goal in as many games, and his first in the UEFA Champions League. He also opened the scoring for Dortmund in last weekend's Bundesliga win against Mainz.
28'
Dortmund lead!
There's the opening goal! Karim Adeyemi accepts a pass from Ryerson and makes his way down the right before crossing to the far post, where Svensson arrives to fire the hosts in front.
24'
Athletic Club bite back
Navarro tries to make use of a centre from the right but can only head well off target. Something for the Bilbao fans to cheer, at least.
21'
A chance!
Finally. Sabitzer lets fly from distance and Simon is forced to push that one out. Dortmund suddenly look the hungrier of the teams.
20'
Off frequency
Chukwuemeka looks to combine with Guirassy but the pair get their communication wrong and the move breaks down.
17'
Better from BVB
Bensebaini's cross is narrowly missed by Anton and there was the moment that brought the home fans to their feet.
14'
Chukwuemeka lively
The England U20 international has been doing his best to create for the hosts but is being jostled and hustled by the Athletic Club backline when he ventures into the danger zone.
10'
BVB searching
Some good build-up play by Bellingham, Ryerson and Adeyemi ends with the latter back-heeling a pass to nobody in particular.
7'
Bilbao settling
The noise isn't getting to the visitors thus far as they ping the ball about the pitch in a calm manner, waiting for an opportunity to present itself.
4'
Adeyemi searching
BVB's No. 27 plays one over the top for Guirassy to chase but the striker won't reach that. Nice try, nonetheless.
2'
Chukwuemeka over eager
The Dortmund man is pulled up for a foul on Alejandro Rego as BVB press hard early on.
1'
Off we go!
It's game on in Dortmund.
More on those teams
The big news out of Dortmund is that Guirassy's passed fit to start following a thigh problem. Julian Brandt makes way in one of five changes to the Mainz win, with Yan Couto, Nico Schlotterbeck, Felix Nmecha and Max Beier also dropping to the bench. Julian Ryerson, Niklas Süle, Carney Chukwuemeka and Jobe Bellingham come in. As for the visitors, Nico Williams is still unavailable through injury.
Dortmund subs
Meyer, Yan Couto, Schlotterbeck, Nmecha, Brandt, Groß, Beier, Fábio Silva
Bilbao starting line-up
Simón – Areso, Vivian, Laporte, Iñigo Lekue – Jauregizar Alejandor Rego – I. Williams (c), Navarro, Gomez - Sannadi
Bilbao subs
Mikel Santos, Padilla, Sancet, Guruzeta, Jesús Areso, Laporte, Ruiz De Gallareta, Berchiche, Adama Boiro, Serrano, Adrían Pérez, Ibon Sanchez