BVB's dream start sealed after comeback at Hoffenheim | OneFootball

Coach Niko Kovac still had to do without, among others, Ramy Bensebaini (team news), trusted young defenders Joane Gadou and Filippo Mane alongside veteran Waldemar Anton at the back, and this time deployed Maxi Beier in the “number 10” role. He registered Borussia’s first attacking move in the sixth minute when his effort was deflected behind for a corner. The first shot on target came from Guirassy in the 22nd minute.

Up to that point, BVB had been very focused on safety, while Hoffenheim were the more active side. Anton had to clear several times as the last line of defense. His dissatisfaction with the display of the players in front of him was written all over his face. And just when the Black and Yellows seemed to be gaining momentum, TSG found more space and created chances: Gregor Kobel made strong saves against Daghim (30) and Hlozek (34). Mane also picked up a thigh injury, and Kovac reshuffled his team: Svensson moved into the back three, Beier shifted to the left flank, and his position was taken by substitute new signing Ethan Nwaneri.

But immediately before the break, Hoffenheim took the lead. Daghim’s curling effort was blocked, but no Dortmund player got to the ball, Coufal pulled it back from the right side of the box to Avdullahu, who fired home high into the top-left corner from 22 meters.

Borussia emerged from the dressing room with Joey Veerman on for Felix Nmecha. But at first, little changed in either their style of play or their overall display. After further warning shots from Lemperle (49, Kobel saved) and Kabak (53), Lemperle robbed Gadou of the ball in the 54th minute, and also had the luck of seeing Anton deflect his shot past the helpless Kobel and into the net for 2:0.

Shortly after TSG came close to making it 3:0, BVB had their first reason to celebrate. Anton won the ball from Avdullahu in the opposition half and fed it centrally to Guirassy, who kept his composure one-on-one with Baumann and chipped home to cut the deficit to 2:1 (61). Kovac then brought on Luca Reggiani for Gadou and Fabio Silva for Karetsas. And just five minutes after pulling one back, around 10,000 BVB fans were celebrating the equalizer: Kobel launched a goal kick, Guirassy controlled it and laid it on from the center circle to Fabio Silva, bursting through on the left, and he placed the ball perfectly off the inside of the left post – 2:2 (66).

In the closing stages, Borussia completed the comeback. Nwaneri played it out left to Fabio Silva, who squared it for Nwaneri, whose cross was slightly deflected by Avdullahu and then turned into his own net by Hajdari (87).

TSG HOFFENHEIM – BORUSSIA DORTMUND 2:3 (1:0)

Bundesliga, Matchday 2Saturday, 5 September 2026, 15:30

TSG: Baumann – Coufal, Kabak (79. Hranac), Hajdari, Rots – Avdullahu, Burger (79. De Cat) – Wimmer (73. Conté), Daghim – Lemperle (84. Moerstedt), Hlozek (73. Kramaric)Bench: Philipp, Bernardo, Gendrey, Lenz

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.