Julian Brandt brace not enough as Borussia Dortmund frustrated by Bodø/Glimt in UEFA Champions League

Borussia Dortmund suffered an unexpected setback in their pursuit of automatic qualification for the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League last 16 as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt at Signal Iduna Park.

Borussia Dortmund: 2-2 Bodø/Glimt
Goals: 1-0 Brandt 18‘ (assist: Silva), 1-1 Aleesami 42‘ (assist: Berg), 2-1 Brandt 51‘, 2-2 Hauge 75‘

Having thrashed Villarreal 4-0 in their last Champions League appearance, Niko Kovač was keen to keep his side’s momentum up against Bodø/Glimt. Die Schwarzgelben assumed control from the start, dominating possession, but it was the visitors who had the better of the chances in the opening phase.

Twice, Kasper Høgh was sent in behind Dortmund’s backline in the opening 15 minutes on the end of counter-attacks. Both times, Gregor Kobel was called into action, and both times, the Swiss custodian came up trumps. The second in particular was a spectacular save, with Kobel tipping the ball onto the near post from a powerfully struck, close-range effort.

Despite the scares, the hosts went ahead as Fábio Silva picked Haitam Aleesami’s pocket before charging forward and teeing up Julian Brandt, who finished with aplomb.

Dortmund had multiple chances to double their advantage minutes later, with crosses proving an effective means of breaking down their otherwise compact visitors. However, headers from Maximilian Beier and Jobe Bellingham ended up just wide.

Unfortunately for the hosts, Waldemar Anton had to be withdrawn with an injury just past the half-hour mark. Bodø/Glimt then capitalised on the change in Dortmund's defensive synergy, punishing the hosts from a corner with Aleesami heading in from six yards.

Brandt took both of his goals with clinical precision. - IMAGO/Gabriel Calvino Alonso

Kovač’s half-time team talk clearly worked, as an unchanged Dortmund side returned for the second 45 with renewed energy and impetus. Brandt fired his side back into the lead just minutes after the restart, smashing home a tap-in, after Beier’s header from a Yan Couto cross had been blocked out into his path.

Both Silva and Beier had opportunities to put the game to bed at 2-1, but were denied by a series of smart stops from goalkeeper Nikita Haikin. Dortmund remained confident until Aarón Anselmino became the second member of the starting back-three to be forced off through injury.

Before he could be replaced, former Eintracht Frankfurt man Jens Petter Hauge popped up with an instinctive finish to bring the Norwegian side back level. An end-to-end final 15 minutes ensued, but despite offensive reinforcements in the form of Serhou Guirassy and Karim Adeyemi, Kovač’s men couldn’t break down their Norwegian visitors again to find a winner.

Match stats

• Dortmund are 10th in the league-phase table - in one of eight seeded last 16 play-off berths - but only a point behind the automatic qualification places with two games to go.
• Brandt scored his second and third Champions League goals of the season.
• BVB have won four of their last seven UEFA competition matches against Norwegian teams (D2, L1).
• They have lost only one of their last 21 Champions League matches on home turf (W13, D7).
• Borussia have lost only two of their last 13 Champions League matches overall (W7, D4).
• Guirassy has scored 18 goals in his first 24 outings in the Champions League proper - a tally bettered only by Erling Haaland (28 in his first 23). Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane also netted 18 in his first 23.

Teams

Dortmund: Kobel – Anselmino (Can 76‘), Anton (Svensson 33’), Schlotterbeck (c) – Couto (Ryerson 76‘), Nmecha, Bellingham, Bensebaini – Brandt, Beier (Adeyemi 67‘) – Silva (Guirassy 67‘)
Unused subs: Ostrzinski, Meyer, Groß, Duranville, Chukwuemeka, Can, Süle, Ryerson, Campbell
Out: Drewes (not included), Özcan (not included), Sabitzer (not included)
Coach: Niko Kovač 

Bodø/Glimt: Haikin – Sjøvold, Bjørtuft, Aleesami (Nielsen 68‘), Määttä (Klynge 80‘) – Evjen, Berg (c), Fet (Saltnes 46‘) – Blomberg (Jørgensen 68‘), Høgh (Helmersen 68‘), Hauge
Unused subs: Lund, Brøndbo, Bjørkan
Out: Brynhildsen (knock), Gundersen (suspended)
Coach: Kjetil Knutsen

As it happened!

2 - 2

(1 - 1)

Dortmund

FINAL

Bodø/Glimt

Champions League
League phase, Matchday 6 League phase, Matchday 6 Signal Iduna Park

Full-time: Dortmund 2-2 Bodø/Glimt

Dortmund forsake the opportunity to make it three home wins from three in the Champions League this season as Bodø/Glimt fight back twice to share the points at Signal Iduna Park. Brandt put his side back in front early in the second half with his second of the game, but a late equaliser from Hauge, whilst Dortmund were temporarily down to 10 men, ensured the side left the field with a point apiece.

© IMAGO/Borussia Dortmund v FK Bodo/Glimt - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD6

Full-time

90'

+ 4

First booking

Adeyemi sees the first yellow card of the game just minutes from the end for dissent.

90'

+ 4

Yellow card

Karim Adeyemi

90'

+ 1

Stoppage time

Five additional minutes have been indicated.

Hauge celebrates

The former Frankfurt man stunned the home crowd with his instinctive equaliser. Can Dortmund still find a late winner here though?

© IMAGO/MARIUS SIMENSEN

87'

Nearly an own goal!

Sjøvold leads a counter-attack for the visitors, charging up the right flank from inside his own half before reaching the byline and cutting the ball back. Svensson, in trying to recover, ended up connecting with the ball, steering it goalwards, and forcing Kobel to make a great recovery stop to prevent a nightmare moment for the Swede.

84'

Too much on it

Nmecha wins the ball back high up the pitch and spots Guirassy making a run in behind the backline. The No.8 tries to pick out his striker, but his through-ball is just overcooked and gobbled up by the outrushing Haikin.

80'

Substitution

Anders Klynge

Isak Dybvik Määttä

76'

Double change

In the immediate aftermath of that goal, Dortmund bring on Can to replace the injured Anselmino. Ryerson also comes on for Couto, for Dortmund's final change of the night.

76'

Substitution

Julian Ryerson

Yan Couto

76'

Substitution

Emre Can

Aarón Anselmino

75'

Hauge equalises!

Bodø/Glimt make their brief man advantage count and it's the ex-Frankfurt man with the goal! Evjen drives into the box on the right with pace. The chance almost fizzles out, but the ball drops through to Hauge, who is free to shoot from the penalty spot. He places the ball into the net just inside the left post.

75'

Jens Petter Hauge

GOAL!

2:2

75'

Anselmino down

The centre-back has just limped off after falling awkwardly. A replacement has not yet been bought on.

Brandt's second

The German No.10 would have struggled to miss the target from this range as he smashed home his second of the evening.

© IMAGO/pepphoto / Sascha Weiz

69'

Changes aplenty

Both managers elect to go to the bench at the same time, with Dortmund making a double change, and their Norwegian visitors a triple substitution.

68'

Substitution

Villads Nielsen

Haitam Aleesami

68'

Substitution

Mathias Jørgensen

Ole Didrik Blomberg

68'

Substitution

Andreas Helmersen

Kasper Høgh

67'

Substitution

Serhou Guirassy

Fabio Silva

67'

Substitution

Karim Adeyemi

Maximilian Beier

66'

Wouldn't have counted

Silva finds himself in a one-on-one with Haikin. The striker tries to chip the goalkeeper, but the Bodø/Glimt custodian saw it coming and stood tall. Had Silva won out, it wouldn't have counted anyway, as the assistant had their flag raised for offside against the Portuguese.

62'

Fantastic stop

Couto delivers yet another corner in from the left. Anselmino rises highest to meet it, heading down from close range, but Haikin makes a superb reaction save to claw it off the line, before he's helped out by a defender, who clears properly.

58'

So close to a third!

Dortmund combine well through the centre towards the penalty area. Beier sets the ball up from just inside the box on the left and then takes his shot. His effort flies just past the left post at mid-height. He had slipped as he struck it, but even so it wasn't far away...

56'

Silva screams for a penalty

Couto crosses from the right with his left foot to the far post and finds Silva’s head. The Portuguese striker heads the ball from close range, but his shot is blocked by a defender. The Dortmund player immediately appeals for a hand penalty, but the referee lets play continue because the arm was tucked in.

55'

Couto dances through

The wing-back finds himself in the No.10 position and goes on a mazy run, beating multiple defenders before reaching the byline on the left of the goal. He tries to cut back onto his preferred right foot to tee up the shot, but he's dispossessed before he can pull the trigger.

51'

Brandt restores Dortmund's lead!

That didn't take long and it's that man Brandt again. Couto beats his marker down the right flank before whipping an inviting cross into the box, which Beier meets with his head. The goalkeeper makes a good initial save but can only steer it into the path of Brandt, who has a tap-in from two yards.

51'

Julian Brandt

GOAL!

2:1

47'

No way past

Dortmund do well to get down the right and into the penalty area before Couto crosses from the byline. His cross is blocked by a defender.

46'

Back underway!

The ball is rolling for the second half here. There's been a half-time substitution made for the visitors in midfield, but Dortmund resume unchanged.

46'

Substitution

Ulrik Saltnes

Sondre Brunstad Fet

Kick-off!

Half-time: Dortmund 1-1 Bodø/Glimt

It's all-square at the break. Dortmund have dominated for large portions of this match, converting their dominance into numerical advantage inside 20 minutes thanks to a lethal counter-attack being rounded off by Brandt. However, Aleesami - who was at fault for the opener - headed the visitors back level just before half-time, leaving the second half finely poised.

© IMAGO/Ayman Alahmed

Half-time

45'

+ 3

In from Svensson

The Swede delivers another corner in from the left, which had been won after Beier's cross was deflected behind. It looks like a good ball, but Haikin does well to claim it amidst a sea of bodies.

45'

Stoppage time

Three additional minutes have been indicated.

42'

Aleesami makes amends!

The defender, who was at fault for Dortmund's opener, has just brought Bodø/Glimt back level! A corner from the left is allowed to be taken short before a ball is fizzed into the six-yard box, where Aleesami had snuck in unmarked to head home from close range. 1-1!

42'

Haitam Aleesami

GOAL!

1:1

40'

Double chance

Couto splits the visitors' defensive line with a cute ball into the box for Silva to chase. The Portuguese striker is forced to go it alone from a tight angle, which Haikin does well to parry. It the second ball falls to Beier, but the follow-up attempt is straight into the gloves of the Bodø/Glimt goalkeeper.

38'

Svensson delivers

The Swede whips in a deep corner from the right, but a Bodø/Glimt head is first to the ball to clear.

35'

Miscommunication

Silva spins his man excellently on the left flank before looking to release Beier on the far side. Brandt gets in the way however and fails to control the ball, allowing the visitors to regain possession.

33'

In comes Svensson

The left wing-back has been introduced to replace Anton, who had gone off a couple of minutes ago. Dortmund had been playing with 10 men, but they are now back to full strength. Bensebaini will move into centre-back to make way for the substitute out on the left.

33'

Substitution

Daniel Svensson

Waldemar Anton

Anton down

There's a stoppage in play whilst Anton stays down after pulling up, following a clearance. The defender is holding his hamstring and Schlotterbeck has signalled to the bench to make a change.

© IMAGO/Borussia Dortmund v FK Bodo/Glimt - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD6

Brandt's opener

Dortmund's No.10 scored on what was his 500th competitive match at club level.

© INA FASSBENDER

23'

They thought it was in

Crosses are proving an effective avenue for Dortmund. This time, Schlotterbeck curls one in from deep on the left, finding Bellingham on the edge of the box, whose glancing header ends up just wide of the left post and ending up in the netting behind the goal. Some of the crowd had started celebrating that one...

21'

Almost a second!

Silva's in the mood tonight. After assisting Brandt for the opener, the Portuguese forward should have had a second assist to his name, as he whipped a teasing ball into the box, which Beier met with his head. The young German forward, however, heads it wide of the right post.

Brandt smashes home the opener!

Dortmund have lift-off! A long ball up from the back isn't dealt with properly by Aleesami. Silva picks his pocket and, all of a sudden, Dortmund find themselves in a three-on-one, with Beier to Silva's right, and Brandt to his left. He opts to play it to the No.10, who, from inside the box, smashes it past Haikin.

© IMAGO/Gabriel Calvino Alonso

18'

Julian Brandt

GOAL!

1:0

14'

Quickfire corners

Schlotterbeck takes the first corner-kick, curling it from the right to find Anton at the far post, whose header was creeping in and needed to be tipped behind. Couto takes the subsequent set-piece, but this time, Dortmund can't make anything of it.

13'

Up the other end

Dortmund look to hit back, and it's Nmecha who finds himself in space on the edge of the box. The midfielder smashes an effort towards the far corner, but the Haikin dives across to parry the effort behind for a corner.

12'

Off the post!

For all of Dortmund's dominance, in possession the best chances have so far fallen to the visitors. Høgh is found in behind the Dortmund defence again, this time on the right-hand side, from where he strikes towards the near post. However, his effort is met by a spectacular save from Kobel, who tips it onto the post. Huge chance to take the lead there!

9'

First corner

Couto curls a delivery from the left for what was the first corner of the match towards the far post. A Bodø/Glimt head is first to it, but it's cleared only as far as Nmecha in the box, who strikes the loose ball on the volley, sending it high and wide of the mark.

7'

Høgh in behind!

A defensive mix-up for Dortmund affords Høgh space in behind BVB's backline, where he is picked out by a teammate. The forward bears down on Kobel's goal, but his well-struck effort back across goal is parried comfortably by the Swiss custodian.

5'

Looping header

Bensebaini curls a delightful cross into the box, finding Brandt, who had made a good run to get his head to it. The No.10 makes a good connection on the ball, but it ends up on the roof of the net.

3'

Runs out of room

Dortmund break into the visitors' box for the first time tonight, as Brandt threads Beier through to the byline. The young forward tries to beat his man before cutting it back, but he runs the ball out of play.

1'

Peeep!

The ball is rolling here for the battle of the Black & Yellows. Bodø/Glimta made a late change to their line-up with Määttä replacing Bjørkan at left-back.

Kick-off!

Warm-ups complete

Kick-off in less than five minutes. The Yellow Wall is certainly up for this one...

© INA FASSBENDER

Goals, goals, goals?

Despite Bodø/Glimt having won just one of their last 10 UEFA matches (drawing two and losing seven) and being winless in six, they have only failed to score in two of their last 21 UEFA matches. They also face a Dortmund side which has the third-best offensive record in the competition this season, with 17 across their opening five matches, just two behind PSG, and one behind rivals Bayern, who have played one more game.

A welcome sight!

Dortmund legend Marco Reus, now of MLS outfit LA Galaxy, has returned this evening to watch his old team in Champions League action. Reus made 429 competitive appearances for Die Schwarzgelben, scoring 170 goals during his time at the club.

© Christof Koepsel

More on that Bodø/Glimt side

There are three changes made to Bodø/Glimt's line-up from their last league match. Brede Moe, Sondre Auklend and Andreas Helmersen are replaced by Haitam Aleesami, Håkon Evjen and Kasper Høgh.

More on that Dortmund side

Niko Kovač makes four changes to the side which he fielded in the 2-0 weekend win over Hoffenheim. the 2-0 win against Hoffenheim at the weekend. Ramy Bensebaini, Jobe Bellingham, Maximilian Beier and Fábio Silva (pictured) come in for Marcel Sabitzer (not included), Daniel Svensson, Karim Adeyemi and Serhou Guirassy (all benched).

© DFL/Getty Images/Leon Kügeler

Dortmund starting XI

Kobel – Anselmino, Anton, Schlotterbeck (c) – Couto, Nmecha, Bellingham, Bensebaini – Brandt, Beier – Silva

Dortmund subs

Ostrzinski, Meyer, Guirassy, Groß, Duranville, Chukwuemeka, Can, Svensson, Süle, Ryerson, Adeyemi, Campbell

Bodø/Glimt starting XI

Haikin – Sjøvold, Bjørtuft, Aleesami, Määttä – Evjen, Berg (c), Fet – Blomberg, Høgh, Hauge

Bodø/Glimt subs

Lund, Brøndbo, Nielsen, Saltnes, Helmersen, Klynge, Bjørkan, Jørgensen

Special measures

Given that the Norwegian league finished on 30 November, Bodø/Glimt have had plenty of time to prepare themselves for their trip to Germany. In fact, to escape the below-freezing Scandinavian temperatures, Dortmund's visitors have completed a preparatory training camp in Marbella, Spain.

© FREDRIK VARFJELL

Fredrik Sjøvold excited by Signal Iduna Park

The Bodø/Glimt midfielder cut an excited figure with his pre-match comments. Given that the 83,000-capacity Westfalenstadion will play host to a crowd far larger than he's used to in norway, Sjøvold had this to say: “It’s going to be a great experience to play here. We’re excited and very curious. We’ll try to play our game no matter how many spectators there are.”

© Richard Heathcote

Kjetil Knutsen on facing Dortmund

“We’ve spent a lot of time figuring out how we can deal with Dortmund’s individual quality and compactness. On Wednesday we’ll be able to see whether we can keep up at this level... If we want to be competitive, we have to run a lot. Otherwise we have no chance against the best teams.”

© IMAGO/Mats Torbergsen

Brandt's thoughts on Bodø/Glimt

“They are strong fighters, solid defensively, but a different kind of opponent - one that wants to play more and will be full of courage.”

© UWE KRAFT

Niko Kovač on facing Bodø/Glimt

“They play good football and have good players, especially in the transitions. We will have to deal with all facets and find answers. [In their other Champions League fixtures] they've always been close - against Juventus and against Monaco it was tight... They are capable of pushing themselves to the limit and beyond. But that shouldn’t become a factor; in that regard, we are on equal footing."

© INA FASSBENDER

2:03

Dortmund dismiss Hoffenheim

The Black and Yellows ended Hoffenheim's great run on Sunday with goals from Julian Brandt and Nico Schlotterbeck. Dortmund are now unbeaten in six league matches.

Bodø/Glimt lose Viking battle

The Norwegians had a week off as their domestic season concluded at the end of November. Despite a 5-0 final day win over Fredrikstad, Glimt were beaten to the title for the first time in three seasons - finishing just a point behind winners Viking. They were still awarded silver medals though as runners-up.

© IMAGO/Mats Torbergsen

Familiar face

Visiting forward Jens Petter Hauge was previously on the books of Eintracht between 2021 and 2025, joining Bodø/Glimt this summer on a permanent deal.

© IMAGO/Jonathan Moscrop/IMAGO/Sportimage

Head-to-head

These two sides have not previously faced off. However, Dortmund have played Norwegian sides on six occasions, winning four. They have lost just once, to Rosenborg in 1999 (3-0). That same year, Bodø/Glimt played Werder Bremen in the first round of the UEFA Cup, losing 6-1 on aggregate.

© Imago

Bodø/Glimt - the story so far

In their maiden appearance in the tournament proper, Bodø/Glimt have learned the hard way just how tough things can be at this level. They currently have two points their name from five matches, conceding 11 goals. They have scored seven, though, and have threatened offensively, so Dortmund will have to be on their toes.

© IMAGO/Stian Lysberg Solum

Dortmund - the story so far

After five games, Dortmund are in a strong position to progress to the last 16. They currently sit in sixth, having won three games and drawn the other. The loss to Man City was a disappointment, but only PSG have scored more than their 17 league phase goals so far.

© IMAGO/Bahho Kara

Welcome!

Welcome along and thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of Borussia Dortmund's Champions League encounter at home to Bodø/Glimt on Matchday 6 of the league phase, which kicks off at 9pm CET on Wednesday.

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