On 17 January 2026, Borussia Dortmund overturned a 0‑2 deficit to beat FC St Pauli 3‑2 at Signal Iduna Park, earning three vital points and cementing their hold on second place in the Bundesliga. Julian Brandt, Karim Adeyemi and a last‑minute penalty from Emre Can delivered the comeback that kept Dortmund in the title chase.
Match Timeline and Key Moments
Early Setback and St Pauli Lead
St Pauli opened the scoring within the first ten minutes and doubled the lead twelve minutes later, putting Dortmund under immediate pressure.
Dortmund’s Turnaround
Julian Brandt sparked the revival in the 35th minute with a low‑driven strike, followed by Karim Adeyemi’s equaliser just before halftime after a swift one‑two with Christopher Rasch.
Decisive Penalty
In the 89th minute Emre Can calmly converted a penalty, sending the ball to the left corner and sealing a 3‑2 victory for Dortmund.
Context and Implications
Impact on the Bundesliga Race
The three points keep Dortmund firmly in second place, just two points behind league leaders Bayern Munich, and reinforce their reputation for resilience in title‑contending matches.
St Pauli’s Situation
Despite the early dominance, the loss highlights defensive lapses that could hinder St Pauli’s fight to escape the relegation zone.
Statistical Snapshot
- Possession: Dortmund 55 % – St Pauli 45 %
- Shots (on target): Dortmund 14 (6) – St Pauli 9 (4)
- Corners: Dortmund 7 – St Pauli 3
- Pass accuracy: Dortmund 84 % – St Pauli 78 %
Looking Ahead
Dortmund next faces RB Leipzig, a clash that could reshape the top‑four hierarchy, while St Pauli travels to VfB Stuttgart to try to rebound from the defeat.
