Borussia Dortmund continued their impressive start to the season with a commanding 4-1 victory over Athletic Club in the Champions League at Signal Iduna Park.
In front of more than 81,000 fans, Niko Kovac’s side dominated from the outset. The breakthrough came in the 28th minute when Daniel Svensson arrived at the back post to turn in Karim Adeyemi’s cut-back after the winger’s electrifying run down the flank.
Any hopes of an Athletic revival were quickly crushed after the interval. Just five minutes into the second half, Carney Chukwuemeka marked his first European goal with a low strike that deflected past goalkeeper Unai Simon to double Dortmund’s lead.
Athletic did find a way back into the contest on the hour mark, courtesy of a defensive lapse from the hosts. Niklas Süle’s clearance ricocheted off teammate Waldemar Anton, allowing substitute Gorka Guruzeta to pounce and score his side’s first Champions League goal of the campaign.
However, Dortmund responded emphatically. Marcel Sabitzer unleashed a powerful drive from distance in the 82nd minute that deflected in off Serhou Guirassy for 3-1. Then, in stoppage time, substitute Julian Brandt completed the scoring with a precise low finish to give the result a more dominant edge.
The victory ensures Dortmund remain unbeaten this season, with six wins and two draws across all competitions. It also strengthens their position in Europe after a thrilling 4-4 opener against Juventus, where they had squandered a two-goal lead late on.
For Athletic, the defeat marks a second consecutive setback in the Champions League, leaving Ernesto Valverde’s side under pressure to turn their campaign around.
Dortmund, currently second in the Bundesliga behind Bayern Munich, look well-placed to challenge both domestically and in Europe as their momentum builds.
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