Dortmund happy to be top of Bundesliga, want to be Bayern challengers

Borussia Dortmund are assured of being top of the Bundesliga table for at least three weeks and hope that their perfect start into the league season can make them a serious challenger for Bayern Munich.

"We are enjoying the moment, we have worked for that," defender Waldemar Anton said, while Maximilian Beier said: "It sounds good. We'll take it."

Beier scored Dortmund's 1-0 winner at VfB Stuttgart to make it four wins out of four in the Bundesliga and got a third clean sheet from those matches.

Bayern challengers

Dortmund take a two-point lead over champions Bayern and Freiburg into a three-week international break which is then followed by nine matches in 30 days across all competitions for them, including an October 31 trip to Munich. 

"We shouldn't really be looking at May," sporting director Ole Book warned with a look at the end of the season, adding in reference to Munich: "I know at least one team in Germany that has certain title ambitions."

Managing director for sport Lars Ricken said that "we want to be a challenger" for teams like Stuttgart, "but also for Bayern."

Maturity and resilience

Dortmund last topped the league in May 2023 on the penultimate matchday, only to falter on the final day as Bayern triumphed yet again.

Dortmund have not won the Bundesliga since 2012 but have reason to be optimistic amid their best league start since 2015.  

"That they can win such games like today in Stuttgart makes the team dangerous for Bayern," record German international Lothar Matthäus said in his role as a Sky TV pundit.

Dortmund were not glorious on Saturday night but very mature, especially in defence.

"I think we have mastered a stress test," Ricken said. "Last season we sat here in the dressing room, had won 2-0 and didn't really know why. Today we know why."

Coach Niko Kovac named the result "a statement" while Ricken praised the work of the coach since arriving in March 2025.

“Under Niko, we have developed a certain resilience. The team is really eager to defend their own goal,” Ricken said.

Beier delight

Beier's 70th-minute winner off a cross from substitute Jobe Bellingham was also noteworthy as he scored two days after being left out of the German national team squad for upcoming Nations League matches by new coach Jürgen Klopp.

"Life writes the most beautiful stories," Kovac said. 

"Maxi Beier isn't with the national team, but today he was the one who scored. I'm thrilled for him, and it ultimately shows that we have a great squad and a great player in Maxi, and that he has rewarded himself with this goal today. 

"Now, he can take a few days off and work from home."