BVB reclaim league lead after May 2023 as Bayern chase

After a 1,212‑day wait, Borussia Dortmund (BVB) reclaimed the Bundesliga summit, a position they last held in May, while Bayern Munich sit ten points behind as the first challenger.

Celebrations on and off the pitch

Former midfielder Lars Ricken watched the post‑match table on his phone, and Carsten Cramer urged him to celebrate by placing his flat hand over his chest. The gesture mirrored the jubilation of Borussia Dortmund officials on the stadium terrace, and fans echoed the euphoria, chanting that the team could barely walk before the long international break.

Match details and key moments

Trainer Niko Kovac’s side opened the season with four straight wins, the fourth coming in a 1‑0 victory over Champions‑League participants VfB Stuttgart. Maximilian Beier, the match‑winner, scored in the 70th minute and later said, “That sounds very good. We’ll take that with us.”

Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel (31) made a crucial save early on, while Bilal El Khannouss produced the best chance before half‑time with a close‑range header. In the second half, Kovac introduced Konstantinos Karetsas and Jobe Bellingham; Karetsas missed a clear opportunity for a second goal in the 73rd minute.

Stuttgart’s Deniz Undav warned against complacency, stating, “We must not be so reckless. The most important thing is to keep a clean sheet, because if you keep a clean sheet you can also win.” He added that Stuttgart’s three points from the first four games fell short of their ambitions.

Both clubs fielded line‑ups drawn from Jürgen Klopp’s extensive pool. Borussia Dortmund started Nico Schlotterbeck, Felix Nmecha and Waldemar Anton, while Stuttgart’s starters included Finn Jeltsch, Chris Führich, Maximilian Mittelstädt and Josha Vagnoman.

Despite the early pressure from Dortmund, Stuttgart struggled to create clear chances, and the 60,000 spectators at the Stuttgart Arena witnessed a fragmented opening phase. The BVB’s high‑pressing approach forced Stuttgart to retreat, but the visitors failed to exploit the spaces left behind.