BVB start the year with frantic 3-3 draw in Frankfurt | OneFootball

Personnel mattersAs was the case for the last game of 2025 (a 2-0 win over Gladbach), the trio of Aaron Anselmino (muscle injury), Jobe Bellingham (suspended) and Ramy Bensebaini (Africa Cup of Nations) were missing. But Gregor Kobel was back in action, as were Waldemar Anton, Marcel Sabitzer and Maximilian Beier, who rejoined the team after the short winter break.

The matchDespite temperatures just above freezing, both teams were up to speed from the start. Quickly bypassing the midfield after winning the ball was not only a tactic used by SGE. BVB also played numerous through balls to their forwards. It was an intense game characterised by lots of tackles, with Borussia taking an early lead: it started with a diagonal ball from Nico Schlotterbeck to Julian Ryerson on the right, who played the ball sharply to the near post with his second touch, where Beier ran in and slotted it into the right corner with his left foot to make it 1-0 (10).

Frankfurt immediately stepped up their game in response, with Uzun testing Kobel in the 17th minute. Shortly afterwards, Theate extended a throw-in to Koch, who was hit on the thigh by Serhou Guirassy in the penalty area. Uzun converted the penalty to make it 1-1 (22). In the closing stages of the first half, with BVB having enjoyed 57% possession and seven shots compared to five for their opponents, Kaua Santos saved Schlotterbeck's header (40) and Brandt narrowly missed the target (45+2).

Frankfurt came out of the dressing room firing on all cylinders. But Svensson had the chance to make it 2-1 after a great pass from Brandt, but he was blocked in front of goal by Theate and his effort on the follow-up zipped just wide of the post (52). Theate then cleared a Sabitzer shot off the line (58), and Anton headed into the arms of the goalkeeper (59). Down the other end, Kobel had to pull out all the stops to deny Knauff between these two BVB chances (54). In the first 15 minutes after the restart, both teams had four shots – and then they both scored with their fifth! First, Felix Nmecha celebrated making it 2-1. Theate gave the ball away to the Dortmund midfielder, who shot from 18 metres out. The ball deflected off Larsson on its way into the back of the net, taking a touch on the left upright on its way in(68). Just three minutes later, Kalimuendo played the ball into the path of Ebnoutalib, who equalised from 16 metres into the top right corner to level the score at 2-2.

Brown prevented Theate from making it 3-2 after a cross from Svensson and a mistake by Kaua-Santos, which nearly resulted in an own goal (78). In the final minute of regulation time, Schlotterbeck headed the ball onto the crossbar. The action then unfolded rapidly: first Dahoud was in the right place at the right time to put Frankfurt 3-2 ahead in stoppage time and seemingly condemn BVB to defeat. But Carney Chukwuemeka got on the end of a Sabitzer cross to find the back of the net and make it 3-3 to salvage a well-deserved point (90+6).

Outlook:Two home games now follow: on Tuesday (20:30 CET) against Bremen and on Saturday (15:30 CET) against St. Pauli. Both games will be broadcast live on Sky.

Boris Rupert