Borussia Dortmund see off Athletic Club Bilbao challenge in UEFA Champions League

Goals from Daniel Svensson, Carney Chukwuemeka, Serhou Guirassy and Julian Brandt helped Borussia Dortmund to make it four UEFA Champions League goals in as many games with Basque side Athletic Club Bilbao swept aside at the Signal Iduna Park.

Borussia Dortmund 4-1 Athletic Bilbao
Goals: 1-0 Svensson 28’ (assist: Adeyemi), 2-0 Chukwuemeka 50’ (assist: Guirassy), 2-1 Guruzeta 61’ (assist: Ruiz de Galarreta), 3-1 Guirassy 82' (assist: Sabitzer), 4-1 Brandt 90'+1

The hosts were unbeaten in all competitions going into their second Champions League game of the season. With a wild encounter against Juventus on opening night in this tournament ending 4-4, Niko Kovač was keen to make sure his players were more focused in the opening 45 minutes against Athletic Club. 

In an initial spell that contained little goalmouth action, a Marcel Sabitzer effort from distance which drew a smart save from Unai Simón sparked the Black-and-Yellows into life. 

Daniel Svensson celebrates his first ever Champions League goal. - INA FASSBENDER

Svensson celebrated his first Bundesliga goal of the season when opening the scoring in BVB's win against Mainz at the weekend, and the Swede was celebrating a maiden Champions League goal 28 minutes into the contest when tapping home Karim Adeyemi's cross to the far post.

Niklas Süle twice took aim thereafter as Die Schwarzgelben kept up the pace in a first half in which the home side were never threatened. 

If the first act went perfectly to plan for the 1997 Champions League winners, things continued to go Dortmund's way not long after the restart.

Ernesto Valverde made three changes at the break in order to help the Basques find their groove, but it was the home side who lit up the Signal Iduna Park once more when Chukwuemeka fired in at the near post after accepting an assist from the returning Guirassy. 

Carney Chukwuemeka put BVB 2-0 up on the night. - INA FASSBENDER

It should have been plain sailing from there for Borussia, but when Gorka Guruzeta found the corner of Gregor Kobel's net with a powerful shot, Athletic were alive and suddenly hungry for more.

Roberto Navarro provided the fright of the night for the home fans when his effort narrowly missed the far post, while at the other end, substitute Brandt drew a monumental save from Simón.

Calm was then restored to Dortmund ranks when Guirassy - the Champions League's joint top scorer last season - netted his first of the competition for this campaign.

Their tails now up, BVB guaranteed their first three points of the 2025/26 league phase when Brandt powered home Maxi Beier's slick through pass. 

Match stats

• This was the first competitive meeting between these teams. Their only previous encounter was a 2-0 pre-season friendly win for Bilbao in July 2021.
• Guirassy finished as the Champions League's joint-top scorer last season with 13 goals. He got off the mark in this season's tournament here.
• The Guinea international has scored 16 Champions League goals in his first 20 game sin the competition. Only Erling Haaland (25) managed more. 
• Adeyemi is Dortmund's in-form attacker at present, with three goals and three assists across his last five competitive outings.
• Dortmund have now won each of their last eight home games in all competitions. 
• This is Dortmund's 10th straight season playing in the Champions League. They have reached the knockout rounds in seven of the past nine campaigns.

Teams

Dortmund: Kobel (c) - Süle (Schlotterbeck 69'), Anton, Bensebaini – Ryerson, Sabitzer, Chukwuemeka (Brandt 63'), Svensson - Bellingham (Nmecha 69') - Adeyemi (Beier 63'), Guirassy (Fábio Silva 87')
Unused subs: Meyer, Yan Couto, Groß
Out: Anselmino (muscular), Can (groin), Duranville (shoulder), Özcan (ineligible)
Coach: Niko Kovač 

Bilbao: Simón – Areso, Vivian (Laporte 46'), Laporte, Iñigo Lekue – Jauregizar Alejandor Rego (Ruiz De Gallareta 46') – I. Williams (c) (Guruzeta 46'), Navarro, Gomez (Serrano 63') - Sannadi (Ibon Sanchez 80')
Unused subs: Mikel Santos, Padilla, Sancet, Jesús Areso, Berchiche, Adama Boiro, Adrían Pérez
Out: Egiluz (knee), Prados (knee), N. Williams (muscular)
Coach: Ernesto Valverde

As it happened ...

4 - 1

(1 - 0)

Dortmund

FINAL

Bilbao

Champions League
League phase, Matchday 2 League phase, Matchday 2 Signal Iduna Park

Full-time: BVB 4-1 Athletic

In the end, it was a comfortable win for a Dortmund side who had four different goalscorers on the night. There was a time at 2-1 when home nerves were jangling, but Serhou Guirassy and Julian Brandt's late strikes ensured BVB picked up their first three points of the group stage.

© INA FASSBENDER

90'

+ 1

BVB home free

Beier feeds Brandt, who waltzes through and powers home Dortmund's fourth. Game, set and match.

90'

+ 1

Julian Brandt

GOAL!

4:1

89'

Yellow card

Maximilian Beier

85'

Calming things down

With memories of Turin still fresh in their minds, Dortmund are looking to see this one out in a calmer fashion.

82'

Dortmund have daylight!

That might just be that! Serhou Guirassy has his first Champions League goal of the campaign after getting something on Marcel Sabitzer's effort at goal. 3-1 to the hosts now.

82'

Serhou Guirassy

GOAL!

3:1

80'

What a save!

Julian Brandt was all set to celebrate there when his effort at goal looked in all the way, only for Unai Simón to pull off a magnificent save.

75'

Here come Dortmund

This game is now a little too frantic for those wearing Black and Yellow. That said, Guirassy draws a save from Unai Simon to take the pressure off the hosts.

72'

Athletic go close!

BVB fans had their hearts in their mouths there after Navarro got past Schlotterbeck before narrowly missing the far post with a dangerous shot.

70'

Freshening up

It's Schlotterbeck and Nmecha on now for BVB, who need to control the game in key areas in order to avoid the visiting side from gaining a stronger foothold than they already have.

69'

Substitution

Nico Schlotterbeck

Niklas Süle

68'

Substitution

Felix Nmecha

Jobe Bellingham

65'

Right back in it

The La Liga team look a different side now after that goal and Dortmund need to be wary of what happened in Turin on Matchday 1, when Die Schwarzgelben gave up a two-goal lead before having to settle for a point.

63'

Double swap

Niko Kovač brings Brandt and Beier in to try and reestablish Dortmund's dominance after that setback moments ago.

63'

Substitution

Julian Brandt

Carney Chukwuemeka

63'

Substitution

Maximilian Beier

Karim Adeyemi

60'

Visitors back in it

Having done so little during the entire game, suddenly Athletic Club are right back in the contest and it's Gorka Guruzeta who powers in Íñigo Ruiz de Galarreta's pass to the corner. Game on.

60'

Guruzeta

GOAL!

2:1

58'

Yellow card

Gorosabel

55'

Bellingham tries one

The English midfielder attempts a shot from range but the ball hits Svensson and goes off target.

53'

Kobel to the rescue

Dortmund's goalkeeper has top be alert to keep a dangerous Maroan Sannadi whot out. Unai Gómez misses with the follow up.

50'

BVB cruising

Dortmund double their lead and the home fans are in dreamland. It's Carney Chukwuemeka's time for a first Champions League goal and he gets it with a near-post effort following some good work from Serhou Guirassy.

50'

Carney Chukwuemeka

GOAL!

2:0

46'

Triple change

Visiting coach Ernesto Valverde makes sweeping changes at the break as he looks to produce a spark among the visitors, who were not at the races in the first half.

46'

Substitution

Guruzeta

I. Williams

46'

Substitution

Laporte

Vivian

46'

Substitution

Ruiz De Galarreta

Jaureguizar

46'

Back underway

The second half is go in Dortmund.

Half-time: BVB 1-0 Athletic

Daniel Svensson's first Champions League goal has the hosts deservedly in front against visitors Athletic Club at the break.

© INA FASSBENDER

43'

Yellow card

Paredes

40'

In command

Niko Kovač's side are well worth their lead here and along with creating all of the chances, are keeping the visitors in their pockets.

36'

Süle again!

Dortmund's man mountain fancies his chances of getting on the scoresheet this evening and he has another spank at goal, with his latest effort fizzing just wide.

34'

Süle has a pop

The giant defender slams an effort at goal but Simon is equal to it and can parry wide.

32'

Visitors awake

Athletic Club are beginning to come forward after going behind. Iñaki Williams tries to create some danger with a cross from the right, but Kobel gathers that with ease.

0:13

On a run

That's Daniel Svensson's second goal in as many games, and his first in the UEFA Champions League. He also opened the scoring for Dortmund in last weekend's Bundesliga win against Mainz.

28'

Dortmund lead!

There's the opening goal! Karim Adeyemi accepts a pass from Ryerson and makes his way down the right before crossing to the far post, where Svensson arrives to fire the hosts in front.

28'

Daniel Svensson

GOAL!

1:0

24'

Athletic Club bite back

Navarro tries to make use of a centre from the right but can only head well off target. Something for the Bilbao fans to cheer, at least.

21'

A chance!

Finally. Sabitzer lets fly from distance and Simon is forced to push that one out. Dortmund suddenly look the hungrier of the teams.

20'

Off frequency

Chukwuemeka looks to combine with Guirassy but the pair get their communication wrong and the move breaks down.

17'

Better from BVB

Bensebaini's cross is narrowly missed by Anton and there was the moment that brought the home fans to their feet.

Cagey affair

It appears as though the teams are erring on the side of caution and are wary of making an error here with just over a quarter of an hour gone. Neither goalkeeper has had to make a save.

© IMAGO/Markus Fischer

14'

Chukwuemeka lively

The England U20 international has been doing his best to create for the hosts but is being jostled and hustled by the Athletic Club backline when he ventures into the danger zone.

No attempts

It's been a game of no chances as both sides feel each other out. BVB are bossing the possession stats with 54 per cent of the ball so far, however.

© IMAGO/David Inderlied

10'

BVB searching

Some good build-up play by Bellingham, Ryerson and Adeyemi ends with the latter back-heeling a pass to nobody in particular.

7'

Bilbao settling

The noise isn't getting to the visitors thus far as they ping the ball about the pitch in a calm manner, waiting for an opportunity to present itself.

4'

Adeyemi searching

BVB's No. 27 plays one over the top for Guirassy to chase but the striker won't reach that. Nice try, nonetheless.

2'

Chukwuemeka over eager

The Dortmund man is pulled up for a foul on Alejandro Rego as BVB press hard early on.

1'

Off we go!

It's game on in Dortmund.

What an atmosphere!

The players have finished their warm-ups and we're expecting to see both teams re-take the field in just a few moments for tonight's game. The Signal Iduna Park is - unsurprisingly - alive with colour and noise. We're almost there!

© IMAGO/Ulrik Pedersen/DeFodi Images

Guirassy's time?

Joint-top scorer in last season's Champions League with 13 goals, will the returning Serhou Guirassy get off the mark in this year's competition at the Signal Iduna Park against Athletic Club? We're soon to find out!

© IMAGO/STUDIO FOTOGRAFICO BUZZI SRL

Poor form

As mentioned earlier in the blog, Athletic Club are winless in five games, with their last victory coming back in August. The Basque side last celebrated a victory at the end of August and they began their league phase campaign in this season's Champions League with a 2-0 reverse against Arsenal.

© IMAGO/Jose Torres

Jobe's chance?

Speaking of Bellingham (junior), this will be Jobe's third start for BVB since the 2025/26 campaign got underway and it represents an opportunity for the 20-year-old to impress BVB boss Niko Kovač, who has previously stated that there is fierce competition for places in the Dortmund engine room with Felix Nmecha, Pascal Groß and Marcel Sabitzer all vying for places in there of late.

© IMAGO/Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse

More on those teams

The big news out of Dortmund is that Guirassy's passed fit to start following a thigh problem. Julian Brandt makes way in one of five changes to the Mainz win, with Yan Couto, Nico Schlotterbeck, Felix Nmecha and Max Beier also dropping to the bench. Julian Ryerson, Niklas Süle, Carney Chukwuemeka and Jobe Bellingham come in. As for the visitors, Nico Williams is still unavailable through injury.

Starting line-up: Borussia Dortmund

1

Gregor Kobel

3

Waldemar Anton

5

Ramy Bensebaini

7

Jobe Bellingham

9

Serhou Guirassy

17

Carney Chukwuemeka

20

Marcel Sabitzer

24

Daniel Svensson

25

Niklas Süle

26

Julian Ryerson

27

Karim Adeyemi

Dortmund subs

Meyer, Yan Couto, Schlotterbeck, Nmecha, Brandt, Groß, Beier, Fábio Silva

Bilbao starting line-up

Simón – Areso, Vivian, Laporte, Iñigo Lekue – Jauregizar Alejandor Rego – I. Williams (c), Navarro, Gomez - Sannadi

Bilbao subs

Mikel Santos, Padilla, Sancet, Guruzeta, Jesús Areso, Laporte, Ruiz De Gallareta, Berchiche, Adama Boiro, Serrano, Adrían Pérez, Ibon Sanchez

A Basque piece of Dortmund

Ahead of tonight's premier meeting between the two, an oak tree has been planted in Dortmund as a symbol of gratitude from the visitors.

Spanish connection

Just six players from Spain have turned out for Dortmund, with the recently departed Guille Bueno joining Mateu Morey, Paco Alcacer, Marc Barta (pictured), Mikel Merino and Sergio Gomez on that list.

© Mutsu Kawamori

4:17

Watch: Dortmund on the right track

Unbeaten in the Bundesliga since mid-March of last season, Kovač has BVB challenging at the top once again.

Bilbao a Bundesliga bogey team?

Bilbao have lost only four of their 14 matches against German clubs and are unbeaten against Bundesliga sides since a 3-0 home defeat to Werder Bremen in December 2009, collecting four wins and two draws since. However, the Basque side have won only two of their seven away trips to Germany.

© imago sportfotodienst

Dortmund's Spanish record

BVB are facing Bilbao for the first time, but will be coming up against Spanish opposition for the 45th time. Their home record against La Liga clubs is ten wins, seven draws and five defeats, with the most recent of those being a 3-1 home win against Barcelona.

© IMAGO/David Inderlied

BVB's home advantage

The Black Yellows have lost just one of their last 18 UCL home games, scoring 37 and conceding 11 in that time.

© IMAGO/Ralf Treese/DeFodi Images

Borussia and Bilbao legends face off

Legends of these two respective clubs went head-to-head in a game of walking football this morning at BVB's training ground ahead of tonight's clash, with Kevin Großkreutz among the participants.

Unai Simón on facing Dortmund

"At the end of the day, it's football. Regardless of the opposition or the atmosphere, we have to stick to our game plan. They'll want to have possession and go on the attack, so we must take advantage of our mid-block, defend well in our box and be effective in theirs."

© IMAGO/ Matthieu Mirville

Ernesto Valverde on facing Dortmund

"There will be a great atmosphere. This is what we all wanted to experience: tough matches and difficult opponents. Dortmund are in good form, but we're going to stand up to them, stay focused on the game and try to tip the balance in our favour."

© IMAGO/Sergio Ruiz / PRESSIN

Niko Kovač on facing Athletic

“We expect a motivated and difficult opponent. But we're playing at home and of course we want to win this game. Serhou [Guirassy] completed the final training session. Everything went well. He'll be ready to play tomorrow.”

© IMAGO/Dennis Ewert/RHR-FOTO

3:17

Watch: Serhou Goal-rassy on a tear

The secrets behind Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy's sharp-shooting success so far in 2025.

Bilbao probable XI

Simón – Areso, Vivian, Laporte, Boiro – Vesga, Jauregizar – I. Williams (c), Sancet, Berenguer – Guruzeta

BVB probable XI

Kobel - Anton, Schlotterbeck (c), Bensebaini – Ryerson, Sabitzer, Nmecha, Svensson - Brandt - Adeyemi, Beier

What the form books say

Though Dortmund are heading into this tie in their best form for five years, the same cannot be said for the visitors. After starting their domestic campaign with three wins on the spin, the Basque country giants are winless in five with four losses and a draw in that period.

Previous meetings

Though this is the first time Dortmund are playing Athletic Bilbao, their coach Ernesto Valverde has already faced the Black and Yellows four times in his managerial career - twice with Barcelona (W1, D1) and twice with Olympiacos (D1, L1).

© Juan Manuel Serrano Arce

Returning Guirassy

The Guinea goal machine missed the win away at Mainz, but is expected to return from a thigh injury to be in contention to start against Bilbao. He finished as the joint-top scorer in the Champions League last season with 13 goals.

© IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Hahne

3:01

Watch: Enter the Dortmund fortress

It will be anything but easy for Bilbao to come away from the Signal Iduna Park with points. Under Niko Kovač, they've made their home stadium a fortress once again.

Air Adeyemi taking flight

The 23-year-old has been razor sharp in recent weeks, notching five goal involvements across four games in all competitions, including a speedy stunner against Mainz on Matchday 5 in the Bundesliga.

© IMAGO/Hendrik Hamelau

Points on the board

It could have been more had they not conceded two goals in added time, but the Black and Yellows kick-started their Champions League campaign with a 4-4 thriller against Turin giants Juventus.

© IMAGO/Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images

Dortmund on a roll

Four wins on the spin and four clean sheets to go with that - it's safe to say that Dortmund are in perfect form as they prepare to face Bilbao on Champions League Matchday 2.

© IMAGO/Markus Fischer

Welcome!

Welcome along to live coverage of Borussia Dortmund's second match in the league phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League at home to Athletic Bilbao of Spain on Wednesday.

About the clubs

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