Bologna secured a thrilling 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday, overturning an early deficit to claim their first win of the competition this season. The Serie A side stunned the visitors with two quickfire goals in the second half, extending Dortmund’s miserable run to four consecutive losses across all competitions.
Match Recap
First Half: Dortmund Take the Lead
The Bundesliga side started brightly and took the lead in the 15th minute. Emil Holm’s clumsy foul on Waldemar Anton gave Dortmund a penalty, and Serhou Guirassy coolly converted with a cheeky Panenka to put the visitors ahead.
Bologna struggled to create clear chances in the first half, with Dortmund controlling possession and looking comfortable defensively.
Second Half: Bologna Turn the Tide
The match shifted dramatically in the second half as Bologna grew into the game. Substitutes Thijs Dallinga and Jens Odgaard provided the spark the hosts needed.
- 71st Minute: Dallinga turned in a perfect cross from Odgaard to equalize, giving Bologna a well-deserved lifeline.
- 72nd Minute: Just a minute later, Samuel Iling-Junior pounced on a rebound after Gregor Kobel’s initial save to fire Bologna into the lead.
Dortmund failed to mount a meaningful response, with Bologna comfortably seeing out the game to secure all three points.
Key Stats and Insights
Dortmund’s Struggles Continue
- Dortmund have now lost four consecutive matches in 2025, including defeats to Bayer Leverkusen, Holstein Kiel, and Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.
- This marks the first time Dortmund have lost back-to-back Champions League games in the same season since November 2021.
Bologna’s Dominance
- Bologna outshot Dortmund 17-3, with the visitors managing just two efforts on target.
- Expected Goals (xG): Bologna 1.98, Dortmund 0.97, highlighting the Italian side’s superior attacking performance.
Player Performances
Bologna
- Thijs Dallinga (8/10): Made an instant impact off the bench, scoring the equalizer and injecting energy into Bologna’s attack.
- Samuel Iling-Junior (8/10): Showed excellent awareness to capitalize on the rebound for the winning goal.
- Jens Odgaard (7.5/10): Provided a crucial assist and added creativity in the final third.
Borussia Dortmund
- Serhou Guirassy (7/10): Took his penalty with confidence but was largely isolated in the second half.
- Gregor Kobel (6/10): Made some decent saves but could do little to prevent Bologna’s goals.
- Nico Schlotterbeck (5.5/10): Struggled to contain Bologna’s second-half surge.
What’s Next?
- Bologna: The Italians move up to 27th in the 36-team Champions League table and will look to build on this momentum in their final group-stage game.
- Dortmund: Now 13th with 12 points, Dortmund face Shakhtar Donetsk on the final matchday in a must-win clash to secure their place in the knockout stages.
Final Thoughts
Bologna’s resilience and second-half brilliance were on full display as they earned a memorable comeback victory. For Dortmund, however, the defeat adds to a growing list of concerns, with their form in 2025 leaving much to be desired. Both teams will need to regroup quickly as the Champions League league phase nears its conclusion.
