Borussia Dortmund are flying in terms of results, but a growing tension between winning and playing well is defining the early weeks of their season. The 3-0 win over Paderborn on Saturday extended their perfect start to five wins from five across all competitions, lifting them to second in the Bundesliga with nine points from three games. Yet the performance told a more complicated story. Paderborn outplayed Dortmund for long stretches, leading in shots inside the box at half-time, and it took two late goals from substitute Felix Nmecha to seal the win comfortably. Sky analyst Dietmar Hamann put it plainly: the BVB did not play well.

Coach Niko Kovac's side continue to rely on individual quality rather than a collective playing idea, and management have been open about wanting more. Sport director Lars Ricken said before the season that the next step must be taken, while fellow executive Carsten Cramer spoke of wanting spectacle to complement hard work. Neither has arrived yet.

On a more positive note, the injury situation is easing. Nico Schlotterbeck returned from an 84-day absence against Paderborn and impressed, while Konstantinos Karetsas, who collapsed during the Champions League win over Villarreal due to dehydration, has already resumed individual training and could feature against VfB Stuttgart next weekend. Giannis Konstantelias remains the one long-term absentee after his cruciate ligament injury, with Arsenal loanee Ethan Nwaneri filling that role.