Four games, four wins and top of the Bundesliga. Borussia Dortmund have made an excellent start to the new season, but their early form raises a bigger question: can Niko Kovac’s side turn this momentum into a genuine title challenge?
Borussia Dortmund have given their supporters plenty of reasons to be optimistic after the opening weeks of the Bundesliga season.
BVB have won all four of their league matches, scoring nine goals and conceding just two. That perfect record has put them at the top of the table with 12 points, two ahead of Bayern Munich and Freiburg.
It is Dortmund’s best Bundesliga start since 2015 and only the fourth time in the club’s history that they have taken maximum points from their opening four matches.
✅ Apenas três equipes em todo o futebol profissional da Alemanha seguem com 100% de aproveitamento nas suas respectivas divisões!
⚫🟡 Borussia Dortmund: 4 vitórias em 4 jogos na Bundesliga
🔵⚪ Hertha Berlin: 6 vitórias em 6 jogos na 2. Bundesliga
🔴⚪ FC Bayern Frauen: 5… pic.twitter.com/r2rAoEHzKG— Fussball Brasil (@FussballBR) September 22, 2026
Dortmund began with a 2-0 home win over Hamburger SV before producing a much more difficult performance away to Hoffenheim. They fell 2-0 behind in that game but fought back to win 3-2, showing the resilience that has become one of the defining features of Kovac’s team.
They followed that comeback with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Paderborn before securing perhaps their most impressive league result yet.
A 1-0 victory away to Stuttgart may not look spectacular on paper, but it was the kind of result that can matter over the course of a title race.
Dortmund struggled to create clear chances for long periods, yet they remained organised and eventually found the breakthrough when Jobe Bellingham’s low cross was converted by Maximilian Beier in the 70th minute.
Stuttgart pushed for an equaliser, but Dortmund’s defence stood firm to secure another clean sheet.
Why are Dortmund Unbeaten?
One of the biggest differences in Dortmund this season has been their ability to win matches even when they are not at their best.
That was particularly evident against Stuttgart.
The hosts had periods of pressure, but Dortmund rarely looked like a team that was about to lose control of the game. Their defensive structure allowed them to survive the difficult moments before taking advantage when the opportunity arrived.
Kovac has also built a team that appears more comfortable in difficult games.
Against Hoffenheim, Dortmund were two goals down and could have allowed the match to slip away. Instead, they responded with three goals and completed the comeback. Against Stuttgart, there was no need for another dramatic turnaround. Dortmund simply stayed in the contest until the decisive moment.
That ability to find different ways to win is important for a team with ambitions of challenging for trophies.
The numbers also show a team that has become harder to break down. Dortmund have conceded only twice in their four Bundesliga matches, keeping three clean sheets in the process.
Dortmund sit at the top of the Bundesliga going into the international break after beating Stuttgart 1-0 🔝 pic.twitter.com/ju73typ0Th
— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 19, 2026
Bayern Remain the Biggest Obstacle
For all the excitement surrounding Dortmund, it is far too early to suggest that the Bundesliga title is heading to Signal Iduna Park. Bayern Munich remain the benchmark.
The defending champions have taken 10 points from their opening four league games and have scored 14 goals, five more than Dortmund. Their only dropped points so far came in a 1-1 draw with Freiburg.
There is also the question of whether Dortmund can maintain their current defensive level over an entire season.
Winning four games from four is an excellent start, but the Bundesliga season contains 34 matches. Injuries, fixture congestion, poor spells of form and difficult away trips will eventually test Kovac’s squad.
Dortmund will also need to prove that they can consistently beat the biggest teams. For now, though, Dortmund have put themselves in the position they wanted to be in.
They are top of the Bundesliga, they are defending better, Kovac’s influence is clear ,and the squad is finding different ways to win. The title is still a long way away, but these are certainly the early signs of a Dortmund side capable of making the Bundesliga race much more interesting.
