Borussia Dortmund were flying when the international break rolled around, having won their opening four games of the Bundesliga season for the first time in 11 years. But on Friday, they were promptly brought back to earth by Werder Bremen.
Leading 2-0 after 85 minutes, a fifth consecutive win looked almost certain with the match winding down, until Ludovit Reis pulled one back for the visitors to give them hope. A free-kick from an inviting position offered them another opportunity, and Bremen took it with both hands after Niclas Fullkrug headed it home for 2-2.
In a space of just four minutes, Dortmund's two-goal cushion was wiped out, and so was their perfect start to the season. Luckily for them, Bayern Munich also dropped points the next day against Augsburg, keeping them a point behind the BVB, but the lead could have been extended to four had Niko Kovac's side seen the game off.
3 winners and 2 losers from Borussia Dortmund's 2-2 draw with Werder Bremen
Winner #1: Nico Schlotterbeck
Nico Schlotterbeck returned from the international break with an ankle injury. His participation on Friday was in doubt. But the player displayed marvelous grit and character to recover in time for the clash and made a telling impact at both ends of the pitch.
He guarded the BVB backline superbly with vision, positional awareness and timely interventions. Schlotterbeck made four clearances and blocked one shot, while also helping build pressure on Bremen by proactively participating in their passing game, completing 118 passes on the night.
The defender's best moment of the night though, came in the 85th minute when he headed in a corner from close-range for Dortmund's second goal of the night and his first of the season, as Schlotterbeck showed how valuable he remains in the side.
Loser #1: Ethan Nwaneri
Make no mistake, Nwaneri had a good game. In fact, this was perhaps his best game in Dortmund colors yet. He found a few openings in Bremen's backline and constantly asked questions of their defensive steel, even mustering three shots.
But the Arsenal loanee was cruelly denied a fabulous goal in the second half. In the 62nd minute, Nwanerti launched himself into a spectacular overhead kick that found the back of the net and it seemed like the England U21 international just scored his first goal for Dortmund. However, the goal was ruled out after Waldemar Anton was found guilty of fouling Niclas Fullkrug in the build-up.
Winner #2: Maximilian Beier
No goals or assists for him, but Maximilian Beier showed he's no slouch. The forward was dangerous in one-on-one situations and even warranted a vital save from Bremen goalkeeper Karl Hein towards the end of the opening half with a solid attempt.
Beier later switched sides with Svensson and emerged just as effective, making domineering forward runs that kept Bremen on their toes and linking up brilliantly with other attackers. In fact, the 23-year-old created created four chances and laid three crosses while attempting three shots in the match.
Loser #2: Niko Kovac
What's ironic is that the result comes just days after he signed a contract extension with Dortmund. Kovac is heavily backed in the dressing room and clearly, the management is happy with him too. But the shock collapse on Sunday brings out the skeletons in the closet, that he may not be the right man to guide the BVB to a trophy.
No one's denying the impact the former Croatian international has made since taking over in February 2025. He's averaging more points per game than any of his predecessors, but slip ups like these proved costly last season, and can prove so again this term.
With Bayern taking the standards of the Bundesliga to a new stratosphere over the last decade, it's up to Dortmund to level up and match it. Their tendency of late concessions and unexpected collapses keep them from meeting the Bavarians at their table.
Winner #3: BVB substitutes
Dortmund have mastered the art of making impact substitutions under Niko Kovac, which remains perhaps his biggest accomplishment at the club. On Friday too, two players came off the bench and bagged two assists.
Fabio Silva set up Daniel Svensson - rather fortuitously though - before Joey Veerman found Schlotterbeck with a superb corner delivery. That makes it three assists from substitutions, besides five goals, already this season from BVB players just off the bench.
Add us as a preferred source on Google