Borussia Dortmund's perfect Bundesliga start came to an abrupt end on Friday night as Werder Bremen snatched a 2:2 draw at the Signal Iduna Park in the closing minutes. The result, confirmed by the match data and detailed in post-match coverage, leaves BVB second in the table on 13 points after five games, level with leaders Freiburg but two ahead of Bayern Munich, who also drew at Augsburg. The manner of the collapse, conceding twice in the final ten minutes after leading 2:0, will sting. Former Dortmund striker Niclas Füllkrug scored a stoppage-time equaliser, his first-ever goal against his old club, celebrating without restraint and admitting he could not hold back.

Beyond the result, the squad's fitness situation adds genuine concern. Captain Emre Can, already sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury sustained in February, has now undergone further surgery to address a chronic adductor problem, with a return to full training not expected until after the winter break. Nico Schlotterbeck and Julian Ryerson both returned from the international break carrying knocks, as confirmed by coach Niko Kovac, who was sharply critical of the Nations League fixture schedule.

Looking ahead, Dortmund face Bodoe/Glimt away in the Champions League on 14 October, per the fixture data, with Kovac needing to manage a stretched squad carefully through what he described as a demanding nine-game block.