Füllkrug haunts old club as Werder Bremen fight back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund's perfect start to the Bundesliga season ended in dramatic fashion on Friday night, as Werder Bremen came from 2-0 down in the final ten minutes to draw 2-2 at Signal Iduna Park. Ludovit Reis pulled one back in the 88th minute and former Dortmund striker Niclas Füllkrug equalised two minutes into stoppage time. The match kicked off at 8.30pm in Germany, 2.30am on Saturday in Malaysia.

Late goals after a goalless first half

For 80 minutes the game followed a familiar pattern, with Niko Kovač's side pressing and Bremen goalkeeper Karl Hein standing firm. The deadlock finally broke in the 80th minute when Daniel Svensson scored after Maximilian Beier won the ball back, and Nico Schlotterbeck seemed to settle matters with a header from a corner in the 85th minute.

Dortmund had already seen an Ethan Nwaneri goal ruled out in the 62nd minute, when referee Christian Dingert penalised Schlotterbeck for a foul in the build-up. At the other end, Gregor Kobel made an important save to deny Füllkrug in the 54th minute.

Then Bremen struck twice in quick succession. Reis reduced the deficit in the 88th minute, and in the second minute of added time Füllkrug, set up by Marco Grüll, scored against the club he left in 2024.

Füllkrug's return to haunt Dortmund

The 33-year-old's goal carried extra meaning. Füllkrug joined Dortmund from Bremen in 2023, spent one season there, then moved to West Ham United before returning to Werder on loan this summer for a third spell at the club. His late strike gave Daniel Thioune's side a point few expected after Bremen had lost a friendly 7-0 to Twente during the international break.

Hein was named player of the match after making seven saves. Dortmund created far more, finishing with an expected goals figure of 2.47 to Bremen's 1.07.

What it means for the table

Dortmund had won all four of their opening league games and still lead the table with 13 points from five matches. However, Bayern Munich and SC Freiburg both have 10 points from four games and can draw level with a win this weekend, and Bayern's superior goal difference means they would go top if they win at Augsburg on Saturday.

Bremen move to eight points from five games, having gone into the match on seven points, their best start since returning to the Bundesliga. The rest of matchday five continues on Saturday and Sunday, with Bayern's trip to Augsburg and RB Leipzig's home game against Eintracht Frankfurt among the Saturday fixtures.

Key takeaways

• Dortmund and Werder Bremen drew 2-2 on Friday, 9 October, at Signal Iduna Park.
• Svensson (80') and Schlotterbeck (85') put Dortmund 2-0 up before Reis (88') and Füllkrug (90+2') hit back.
• It was the first time Dortmund had dropped points in the league this season.
• Dortmund lead on 13 points, but Bayern and Freiburg can draw level with games in hand.
• Bremen keeper Karl Hein made seven saves and was named player of the match.

FAQ

What was the score in Dortmund v Werder Bremen? The match finished 2-2, with Bremen scoring twice in the last few minutes to come back from 2-0 down.

Who scored Werder Bremen's equaliser? Niclas Füllkrug, the former Dortmund striker, scored in the second minute of stoppage time.

Are Dortmund still top of the Bundesliga? Yes, with 13 points from five games, but Bayern Munich and SC Freiburg are three points behind with a game in hand.

Sources: Bundesliga.com, ZDFheute, Deichstube, The Sports Encounter