Borussia Dortmund watched a two-goal cushion disappear in stoppage time on Friday as Werder Bremen rallied for a 2-2 draw in Matchday 5 of the Bundesliga at Signal Iduna Park. The decisive blow came from former BVB forward Niclas Füllkrug, whose header in the second minute of added time completed a stunning late comeback against the club he once called home.
The point ended Dortmund's run of four straight wins to open the season, though Niko Kovac's side remain unbeaten and still top the table heading into the rest of the weekend's fixtures.
Füllkrug Breaks Dortmund Hearts Again
For much of the night it looked like business as usual for the league leaders. Dortmund finally broke the deadlock in the 80th minute when Daniel Svensson steered home from close range after good work from Fabio Silva, and five minutes later Schlotterbeck doubled the advantage with a header from a Veerman corner. With the Yellow Wall roaring and a fifth consecutive victory seemingly secured, nobody inside the stadium expected what came next.
How the Comeback Unfolded
In the 88th minute, Reis drove in from the edge of the area after a Dortmund turnover to make it 2-1, sparking belief on the Bremen bench. Then, deep into added time, the visitors struck again. Füllkrug rose unmarked to head home a Marco Grüll free-kick for a dramatic 2-2 equaliser against his former club.
Dortmund had scored two goals in five minutes late on, only for Füllkrug's stoppage-time strike to put an end to the hosts' perfect Bundesliga start. It was a collapse that few saw coming after a first half that produced barely a clear chance for either side.
A Striker Who Knows the Club Well
The identity of the scorer made the blow sting even more for the home faithful. Füllkrug left Bremen for Dortmund ahead of the 2023-24 season and reached the Champions League final with the club before returning to his boyhood side this year, and Friday marked the first time he had found the net against his former employers. The goal also extended a personal milestone: Füllkrug has scored in four consecutive Bundesliga matches for the first time in his career, taking his tally to five goals since his return to Werder.
What the Draw Means for the Bundesliga Table
Current Standings After Matchday 5
Dortmund sit first provisionally on 13 points from four wins and one draw, while Werder Bremen moved up to fourth with eight points from two wins, two draws and one defeat. Dortmund remain three points clear at the top ahead of the rest of the weekend's action, which opens the door for Bayern Munich to close the gap on Saturday.
It has still been an impressive start to the 2026-27 season by Dortmund, who remain unbeaten and top of the Bundesliga, but these two dropped points will feel like a loss to Niko Kovac. For context on how the rest of Europe's top leagues are shaping up, fans can follow the ongoing Bundesliga title race as the season develops.
What's Next for Both Sides
Dortmund will look to bounce back quickly as the title chase tightens, while Bremen head coach Daniel Thioune can point to a response that showed character after trailing by two goals with ten minutes to play. Late drama has been a theme across European football in recent days, with Ronaldo-less Portugal needing a late push past Norway and France and Italy sharing points in a tense Nations League night both offering similar late-match tension in recent fixtures.
Reaction From the Touchline
Kovac did not hide his frustration after the final whistle, with his comments pointing to a side that cannot afford to let control of a match slip in the closing stages, a recurring theme he has flagged before. Thioune, for his part, praised his players' refusal to give up even after falling two goals behind, framing the comeback as proof of the resilience his squad has shown throughout the campaign.
For Füllkrug, the moment carried extra weight given the venue and opponent, even if the result ultimately salvaged only a point rather than a victory. Dortmund's unbeaten record stays intact, but the manner of the collapse will raise questions about game management heading into a congested autumn schedule.