On Saturday, Borussia Dortmund secured a 3-2 victory over FC St Pauli at Signal Iduna Park, with Marco Reus netting the winner in the 78th minute. The win marks Dortmund’s seventh consecutive league triumph, lifts them to 41 points and keeps them within three points of league leaders Bayern Munich, while St Pauli remain in 15th place, fighting to stay clear of relegation.
Match Summary
Dortmund entered the 18th round of the 2025‑26 Bundesliga as the dominant side, while St Pauli sought vital points to avoid the drop zone. The home side opened the scoring in the 13th minute through Julian Brandt, but St Pauli equalised shortly after via Dennis Smuda. A set‑piece header from Mats Hummels restored Dortmund’s lead before halftime.
Key Moments
First Half
- 13′ – Julian Brandt finished a low pass from Karim Adeyemi to give Dortmund the lead.
- 22′ – Dennis Smuda headed home from a quick counter‑attack to level the score.
- 28′ – Mats Hummels rose above the defense to head a corner into the net, making it 2‑1.
Second Half
- 55′ – Dennis Smuda scored again after a one‑two with Luca Zander, tying the match at 2‑2.
- 78′ – Marco Reus received a through‑ball from Jadon Sancho and calmly slotted it low, securing the win.
Dortmund’s Form and What It Means
Under coach Edin Terzić, Dortmund has blended youthful energy from Adeyemi and Sancho with veteran experience from Reus and Hummels. The unbeaten run now stretches to 12 matches across all competitions, echoing the club’s historic periods of dominance. Maintaining this consistency will be crucial as they chase the title.
St Pauli’s Situation
Despite the loss, St Pauli demonstrated offensive potential by scoring twice against a top‑four opponent. Their primary challenge remains defensive solidity, particularly against set‑pieces. The club must convert the resilience shown at Signal Iduna Park into points to stay above the relegation zone.
Implications for the Bundesliga Title Race
With 41 points after 18 games, Dortmund sits three points behind leaders Bayern Munich. The narrow gap intensifies the importance of the upcoming clash with RB Leipzig. Meanwhile, St Pauli’s 15th‑place standing leaves them three points clear of the drop but still vulnerable.
Looking Ahead
Dortmund will soon face a congested schedule, including Champions League fixtures. Squad rotation will be key, but the core attacking trio of Reus, Sancho and Adeyemi is expected to lead the charge. St Pauli’s next match against VfB Stuttgart will test their ability to rebound and secure the points needed for survival.
