Unbeaten in 15 Bundesliga matches and on a run of six consecutive victories, Borussia Dortmund are increasingly embodying their role as serious title contenders. Helmed by Niko Kovač, who himself has a history of making up ground in title races, will Die Schwarzgelben catch their rivals from Munich to claim the 2025/26 Meisterschale?
In the earlier stages of the campaign, The Black and Yellows had developed something of a reputation for conceding late equalisers, dropping points from winning positions courtesy of goals coming after the 89th minute on Matchdays 1, 10 and 11 against St. Pauli, Hamburg, and Stuttgart respectively.
However, since the new year, BVB have turned what was arguably one of their biggest weaknesses into one of their greatest strengths. Their 2-1 victory away to Wolfsburg on Matchday 21 was the fourth time in 2026 that they have managed to turn games around late on to claim points – in this case thanks to an 87th-minute Serhou Guirassy winner.
Guirassy was at it again in a much more comfortable Dortmund victory over Mainz on Matchday 22, scoring his fourth and fifth Bundesliga goals this month in a 4-0 triumph. Borussia’s star of the show against the Zerofivers, however, was Julian Ryerson, who set up all four Dortmund goals with pin-point crosses.
Watch: Borussia Dortmund 4-0 Mainz – highlights
Incidentally, Kovač’s side have now scored first in 15 consecutive Bundesliga games, equalling a joint record set by Hamburg in 1980 and matched by Dortmund in 2013.
Results such as those on Friday night have lent serious weight to comments made by vice-captain Nico Schlotterbeck after his side’s downing of Heidenheim. The centre-back had raised a few eyebrows with his clear statement of intent, declaring: “As BVB, we have to have the ambition to say to our fans that we want to be champions.”
However, now just three points behind their rivals from the south, and with a home instalment of The classic to be played on Matchday 24, Schlotterbeck’s sentiments may ultimately be seen as prophetic come the season’s end.
Dortmund and Schlotterbeck have not lost a league game since the 2-1 defeat in Munich in October. – IMAGO/Maximilian Koch
After all, with six consecutive victories, Dortmund have reduced the gap at the top of the Bundesliga from 11 points after Matchday 18 down to just three ahead of the remaining Matchday 22 fixtures.
In contrast to his vice-captain, however, Kovač is not one for rousing battle cries. Again, following the Heidenheim victory, the Dortmund head coach cooled speculation, saying his focus was much more “on the rear-view mirror” – in other words, on BVB’s pursuers. That said, those chasers have since been kept at arm’s length, prompting Schlotterbeck to double down on his message before the win over Mainz – a game he missed through suspension.
“The lads noticed during the week how fired up I am for it,” admitted the Germany international. “It’s extremely important that we have the focus and the belief to challenge at the top.” Schlotterbeck also feels his words after the Heidenheim game have had had a positive effect on his teammates, adding: “Of course, I hope it helped a bit.”
Two of Dortmund’s most experienced outfield players, Schlotterbeck and Julian Brandt (l-r.), feel Borussia are worthy of being champions. – IMAGO/HMB Media/Claus
Dortmund’s defensive leader also found backing from experienced midfielder Julian Brandt, who opened the scoring against Wolfsburg and would hardly mind ending the season with a trophy in his hands.
Revealing the atmosphere within The Black and Yellows dressing room, the 29-year-old said: “We still had confidence because we’ve often managed to score goals in the last 10 minutes or score last-minute goals this season.
“There won’t be anyone saying they no longer believe [we can do it] – you can search the dressing room in vain for that.”
Despite downplaying his side’s chances, one reason for Dortmund’s stark belief in themselves may lie squarely with their coach’s stellar record in the latter half of Bundesliga campaigns. Last term, the Croatian coach managed to claw back 10 points on the UEFA Champions League places over the final eight matchdays to claim fourth place on the final day of the season.
Dortmund were down in mid-table when Niko Kovač took charge at the end of January 2025. – IMAGO/Sebastian Räppold/Matthias Koch
What’s more, in the 2018/19 campaign, Kovač pulled off a genuine masterstroke – albeit as Bayern coach and to the detriment of his current employers.
Back then, his Munich side were nine points behind Dortmund after 15 rounds of fixtures, yet he ultimately guided the record champions to yet another league title. As such, Dortmund will be wishing Kovač can repeat the same trick in reverse.
For now, hope around the Signal Iduna Park remains very much alive. Schlotterbeck and his teammates continue to vocalise their side’s ambitions, with Guirassy declaring after their most recent victory: “It was important that we followed up Bayern’s win over Hoffenheim [with another win]. We’re still in contention.”
Schlotterbeck missed the Matchday 22 win over Mainz through suspension. – IMAGE/Sven Heidmann
As for Schlotterbeck, he will be available again for The Black and Yellows trip to RB Leipzig and their home game against Bayern, no doubt keen to keep the fire burning beneath his side’s title charge.
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