Borussia Dortmund extended their unbeaten league start to six matches on October 17, 2026, but dropped points for the second consecutive fixture after playing out a goalless draw against Union Berlin at the Alte Försterei, leaving the club winless across three straight competitive outings.
Alte Försterei Stalemate Extends Dortmund Winless Run
Borussia Dortmund went a third consecutive competitive match without a win on Saturday afternoon, following up a 2-2 draw against Werder Bremen and a 1-0 Champions League defeat at Bodö/Glimt with a frustrating 0-0 stalemate on Bundesliga matchday six. The visitors dominated the territorial battle and extended their unbeaten domestic run, but the outcome left Dortmund dropped points for the second league game in a row following their trip to Berlin.
Union Berlin spent much of the afternoon absorbing pressure and threatening on the counter-attack, yet Berlin stay in the bottom three of the table despite securing the hard-earned clean sheet. Expected goals metrics reflected the tight, cagey nature of the encounter, with Union recording 0.70 xG against Dortmund’s 0.88.
Early Controversies and First-Half Flashpoints
The match exploded into action within the opening minute when Dortmund’s Ethan Nwaneri caught Tom Rothe with a sliding challenge. Referee Daniel Schlager initially producing a red card by mistake before correcting it to yellow, sparing the visiting side an immediate numerical disadvantage.
The early leniency failed to calm a physical contest. Waldemar Anton and Serhou Guirassy quickly joined the booking ledger, pushing the caution count to three inside the first quarter of an hour. Janik Haberer and Rothe added their names for Union before the halftime whistle.
As the interval approached, both sides manufactured their finest openings. Nwaneri failed to connect cleanly with a square pass inside the area, while Kastriot Imeri bent a free-kick from near the touchline that prompted a brilliant low save from Gregor Kobel.
Individual Ratings and Tactical Assessments
Defenders stood out while attacking options struggled to generate momentum. Waldemar Anton earned top marks for a commanding performance, registering the most challenges won on the pitch and anchoring Dortmund’s backline while contributing forward impetus during spells of pressure.
| Player | Team | Performance Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Waldemar Anton | Borussia Dortmund | Highest duels won, defensive presence, earned top match rating of 2. |
| Joane Gadou | Borussia Dortmund | Stopped counter-attacks consistently at age 19, despite passing lapses. Rating: 3. |
| Ethan Nwaneri | Borussia Dortmund | Created greatest goal threat early, but faded and lost possession frequently. Rating: 4.5. |
| Maximilian Beier | Borussia Dortmund | Quiet in attacking half-space, substituted after an hour. Rating: 4.5. |
Offensively, the visitors lacked sharpness. Maximilian Beier failed to capitalize on a cross from Julian Ryerson early in the second half, and Serhou Guirassy found clear penalty-area sights heavily restricted by Union’s disciplined defensive block.
Substitutions and Late Scrambles
Tactical changes in the second half brought disruption rather than inspiration.
Seventeen-year-old Mathis Albert replaced the injured Greek midfielder, almost breaking the deadlock in bizarre fashion near the final whistle when a Guirassy header struck him inadvertently near the six-yard box.
Guirassy himself tested Frederik Rönnow directly inside stoppage time, but the goalkeeper gathered safely into his arms to preserve the scoreless draw.