BVB returns to the top of the table – Maxi Beier delivers Lucky Punch

Borussia Dortmund has reclaimed the Bundesliga lead after 1,212 days, as the side coached by Niko Kovac won 1:0 against VfB Stuttgart in Stuttgart on Saturday. Maxi Beier scored the decisive Lucky Punch, while FC Bayern now trails by ten points.

First Four Games and League Position

The 1-0 victory (0-0 at half‑time) was the fourth win in the first four games, sending BVB into the long international break as league leaders and occupying place 1. With four wins from four matches the team has the top of the table firmly in hand.

The last time Dortmund held the league lead was on matchday 33 of the 2022/23 season, after which FC Bayern became champions. This marks the fourth time in the club’s history that the Dortmund side have won the first four league games.

Konstantinos Karetsas, who collapsed about a week and a half ago, returned to the squad after his breakdown and began on the bench. In the starting eleven were Nico Schlotterbeck, Felix Nmecha and Waldemar Anton, while VfB fielded Finn Jeltsch, Chris Führich, Maximilian Mittelstädt and Josha Vagnoman. “After the strong start to the season the BVB travelled to Stuttgart ‘with broad chest’,” Kovac emphasized. The BVB bench also included Deniz Undav and Angelo Stiller, who however did not feature.

Pressing, Chances and Goalkeeper Actions

BVB applied high pressing from the start, but Stuttgart quickly freed themselves and did not exploit the spaces that opened up. In the first half the 60,000 spectators at the Stuttgart Arena witnessed a chaotic opening phase, until BVB goalkeeper Gregor Kobel (31’) saved a foot‑ball against Undav after a mistake by Joane Gadou. Shortly after (34’) Bilal El Khannouss headed a close‑range effort just to the right of the goal, the best chance before the break.

After an hour, coach Niko Kovac introduced Konstantinos Karetsas and the Englishman Jobe Bellingham into the game. Bellingham soon played the ball to Beier, who only had to slot it in at the edge of the box to convert the Lucky Punch in the 70th minute. Karetsas (73’) immediately missed the big chance to make it 2‑0.

FC Bayern, ten points behind, are the primary challenger to BVB and now need to catch up to threaten the lead. The Munich side have also performed strongly in recent games, but the gap remains considerable.

With the win, Borussia Dortmund head into the upcoming international break as league leaders and hope to defend the top spot after the return date.