Niko Kovac’s first match in charge of Borussia Dortmund ended in disappointment as they fell 2-1 to Stuttgart at home on Saturday afternoon. The result leaves Dortmund in 11th place in the Bundesliga, further distancing them from the top four.
Match Recap
Newly appointed Niko Kovac, a former Bundesliga winner with Bayern Munich, took over last week following the dismissal of Nuri Sahin after a four-game losing streak. However, his debut on the sidelines did not go as planned.
Second-Half Dominance from Stuttgart
- 50′ – Own Goal (Anton, Dortmund 0-1 Stuttgart): Stuttgart took the lead early in the second half, as Waldemar Anton – a former Stuttgart defender – accidentally turned a cutback into his own net.
- 61′ – Chabot Header (Dortmund 0-2 Stuttgart): Defender Jeff Chabot doubled Stuttgart’s advantage with a powerful far-post header.
Late Drama at Signal Iduna Park
- 81′ – Brandt Pulls One Back (Dortmund 1-2 Stuttgart): Dortmund dominated possession throughout the second half and cut the deficit when Julian Brandt drilled a low shot in from a tight angle.
- 89′ – Ryerson Sent Off: Dortmund’s comeback hopes ended abruptly when Julian Ryerson received a second yellow card, leaving them with 10 men for the final moments.
Despite late pressure, Dortmund failed to find an equalizer, allowing Stuttgart to take all three points and increase their gap over BVB in the table.
League Standings Update
- Dortmund remain 11th with 29 points – a full six points behind fourth-placed Stuttgart.
- Stuttgart continue their impressive season and remain in the top four, strengthening their chances of qualifying for the Champions League.
Data Debrief: Historic Struggles for Dortmund
- Dortmund are winless in their last five Bundesliga home matches (D3, L2) – their worst home run since autumn 2006 under Bert van Marwijk.
- Stuttgart have now won five consecutive matches against Dortmund, equaling their total number of wins in the previous 29 encounters combined.
- This is the first time in Bundesliga history that Stuttgart have won five straight games against Dortmund – a worrying trend for the Black and Yellow.
Final Score: Borussia Dortmund 1-2 Stuttgart
