Borussia Dortmund are winning, but the debate about how they are winning refuses to go away. A 3-0 victory over promoted Paderborn on Saturday extended their unbeaten run to five games across all competitions, lifting them to second in the Bundesliga table with nine points from three matches. The result looks comfortable on paper, yet the performance told a more complicated story. Paderborn led the statistics for touches in the opposition box and shots from inside the area at half-time, and it took two late goals from substitute Felix Nmecha to put the scoreline beyond doubt. Sky analyst Dietmar Hamann was direct in his assessment: "Good football they did not play." Ethan Nwaneri, on loan from Arsenal and making his first Bundesliga start, echoed that view from inside the dressing room.

The positive news off the pitch is significant. Konstantinos Karetsas, who collapsed during the Champions League win over Villarreal, has been discharged from hospital and returned to individual training. Coach Niko Kovac confirmed all medical checks came back clear and that Karetsas could be an option as early as next weekend. Nico Schlotterbeck also made a successful comeback from injury against Paderborn, winning eight of nine duels. Fabio Silva, meanwhile, scored his third Bundesliga goal of the season and is attracting attention, with VfB Stuttgart's sporting director confirming the club had monitored him previously. Next up is a trip to Stuttgart on 19 September.