Dortmund v Villarreal
Play By Play
Full-time at Signal Iduna Park, and Borussia Dortmund start their Champions League season with a 3-2 win over Villarreal. While a largely forgettable opening period was punctuated by a worrying injury to Konstantinos Karetsas and a flurry of late bookings, both sides came out to play in the second half's five-goal frenzy. Dortmund hit the front in the 53rd minute thanks to an own goal from Renato Veiga as a Maximilian Beier cross caused havoc in the Yellow Submarine's defence. Parity was restored just past the hour mark as Santiago Mourino headed in from a Georges Mikautadze corner. However, after Fabio Silva's inspired emergence from the bench, Dortmund looked a side reborn. Inside the final 10 minutes, he darted down the right and fizzed in a perfect ball for Serhou Guirassy to tap in from close range. Two scoresheet inhabitants would continue their involvement deep into this game, as Mourino brought the Guinean giant down with a bear hug at a corner. Guirassy stepped up to deal what felt like a damning blow for 3-1 from 12 yards. However, in a desperate turn amidst closing pressure, Dortmund's number nine inadvertently bundled home from a Villarreal free-kick in stoppage time to see the final score stretch to 3-2. Although their goal difference takes an early hit, Dortmund get their campaign up and running after playing above their 2.83 xG. Villarreal's drab season across all fronts continues, even though they pushed ahead of their 1.34 xG in an unforgiving setting. Thanks for joining us tonight. We hope you enjoyed the game!
FULL-TIME: BORUSSIA DORTMUND 3-2 VILLARREAL.
Dortmund survive the corner and win a foul as they race out. The relief around the ground is palpable.
VEIGA! It's a late chance for the visitors, as the centre-back finds space in the Dortmund box! However, his shot just deflects wide!
GOOOOAAAALLLLL! 3-2! OWN GOAL GUIRASSY! He can't stop scoring! Pepe takes a right-sided free-kick close to the byline and Kobel punches. It's sent back on goal before it's bundled in by Dortmund's towering striker!
There'll be a minimum of five added minutes.
SILVA! CLOSE! The long-haired forward has been superb since he's come on, and he sees Gulacsi make yet another save as he races down the left, cuts in and beats his marker before stinging the Hungarian's palms with a powerful effort.
Funnily enough, the last time Guirassy scored twice in the Champions League, was when Dortmund beat them 4-0 in November last year. He loves playing this team.
GOOOOAAAALLLLL! 3-1! GUIRASSY BRACE! Surely the hosts are home and hosed now, as the big man steps up and slams the ball confidently past a vacant Gulacsi into the left side for his second goal of the evening. It's a great start to the European season!
Mourino is booked for his bear hug on Guirassy. It's so blatant, and the last thing his side need right now.
PENALTY! The right-sided corner comes in, and Guirassy is boisterously hauled down by Mourino! The wheels have come off for Villarreal!
Villarreal also make a late change, as Navarro comes off for Gerard Moreno. The search for another goal is on!
SILVA! Close! The Portuguese is a handful in the box and forces a save behind from a zinging effort!
With something of an assist for the own goal, Beier has had a good day. Off he comes now for Kaua Prates.
More changes for the men in yellow and black. Nwaneri is off for Carney Chukwuemeka.
What an impact from Silva! His substitution has brought immediate energy and more directness, especially with that cutting run through and brilliant ball lasered back across!
GOOOOAAAALLLLL! 2-1! GUIRASSY SPARKS DORTMUND JUBILATION! The initial free-kick is poor, but BVB possession continues before Silva is fed down the right of the Villarreal box. He gets his head up and slides the ball across where Guirassy can tap home for his first UCL goal of the campaign on the opening night! Simple as that!
Dortmund win a corner on the left. Ryerson takes, but it goes through everyone. Silva keeps it alive with a looping ball back across. The hosts can't make anything of it, but force another set-piece on that same side. This flurry of action ends with Anton getting utterly wiped out by Diatta for a free-kick in a promising, central area.
SILVA! The Portuguese substitute is instantly involved as he lashes a shot on target from the edge of the Villarreal area! It's a well-hit effort, and Gulacsi has to parry it away from the left side of his goal! Top save!
The final change for now sees an unhappy Sabitzer sacrificed for Jobe Bellingham.
Dortmund also go for fresh legs, as Fabio Silva replaces Nmecha.
As suspected earlier, both sides go for changes. The all-action Buchanan makes way for Villarreal, being replaed by Alassane Diatta.
WIDE! Great work from Sabitzer over on the left byline sees the Austrian keep the ball in and cross. Beier and Guirassy seem to get in each other's way as the latter flashes a header wide of the right post!
Veerman sees a shot blocked, and a later corner sees Gulacsi punch out. More changes seem to be imminent, as Fabio Silva converses with Kovac in the Dortmund technical area.
This is the first time Kobel has made five saves in a Champions League game since facing Manchester City in November 2025. There, he was forced into eight stops as City won 4-1.
