Niclas Fullkrug scored in the second minute of stoppage time to earn Werder Bremen a 2-2 draw at Borussia Dortmund and end the hosts’ 100% start to the Bundesliga season.
Dortmund appeared to be heading for a sixth successive league victory after Daniel Svensson and Nico Schlotterbeck scored twice in five minutes. But Ludovit Reis reduced the deficit three minutes later before former Dortmund forward Fullkrug completed a late comeback.
The opening half was short on clear opportunities. Reis came closest for Werder when he drove narrowly wide shortly after the half-hour mark, while Marcel Sabitzer sent a free-kick past the post.
Karl Hein then produced an impressive save to deny Maximilian Beier, who had created space for a shot from a tight angle on the right side of the penalty area.
Hein was tested again shortly after the restart when Ethan Nwaneri forced him into action. At the other end, Fullkrug volleyed a bouncing clearance from the goalkeeper against Gregor Kobel’s outstretched leg.
Dortmund increased the pressure as the second half progressed. Serhou Guirassy saw a glancing header cleared off the line, while Nwaneri’s overhead kick struck the near post and went in. However, the effort was ruled out because of a foul during the build-up.
The hosts finally broke through in the 80th minute. Guirassy raced down the right on a rapid counter-attack before pulling the ball back into the area. Fabio Silva helped it on to Svensson, who struck first time into the roof of the net.
Dortmund doubled their advantage five minutes later when Schlotterbeck rose to head past Hein. The goalkeeper believed he had been impeded, but the goal stood after a VAR review.
Werder responded almost immediately. Oskar Wojcik intercepted a loose pass and Reis carried the ball into the penalty area before firing beyond Kobel to make it 2-1.
Then, from a Marco Grull free-kick in the second minute of added time, Fullkrug timed his movement perfectly and flicked a header over Kobel to secure a point.
Dortmund remain top despite late collapse
Dortmund are still unbeaten and lead the Bundesliga after an impressive beginning to the 2026-27 season, but Niko Kovac’s side will regret allowing victory to slip away.
The match came to life after the interval. Dortmund had 21 shots, with 16 of them coming in the second half, while Werder registered nine attempts during that period and 11 overall.
Kovac’s team finished with 2.42 expected goals (xG), compared with Werder’s 1.13, although the visitors took advantage of their chances.
Schlotterbeck was influential in attack as well as defence, recording four shots – joint-highest in the match alongside Sabitzer – and 23 entries into the final third. Only Waldemar Anton, with 31, managed more for Dortmund.
Fullkrug, however, had the final say against his former club. He has now scored in four consecutive Bundesliga matches for the first time in his career and has five goals since returning to Werder.
Dortmund are three points clear at the top ahead of the rest of the weekend’s fixtures, leaving Bayern Munich with the opportunity to reduce the gap on Saturday.
