Borussia Dortmund marched to a composed 2-0 victory over 10-man Heidenheim on September 13, 2025, keeping their Bundesliga campaign on track and providing fans with a performance that mixed clinical finishing with disciplined control. The evening was marked by an early red card, standout individual efforts, and a display of tactical maturity as Dortmund secured their second league win in three matches.
With the sun setting over the Voith-Arena, anticipation buzzed through the stands as both teams announced their starting lineups an hour before kickoff. Heidenheim, still searching for their first points of the new season, fielded a 4-2-3-1 formation with Ramaj in goal and Budu Zivzivadze spearheading the attack. Dortmund, meanwhile, lined up in a 3-4-3, featuring Gregor Kobel between the posts and a forward trio of Maximilian Beier, Serhou Guirassy, and Karim Adeyemi. Injuries had forced Dortmund to shuffle their lineup, but the visitors looked determined to make a statement on the road.
Heidenheim’s hopes for an upset took a major blow just 21 minutes in. Budu Zivzivadze, the Georgian striker, was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Felix Nmecha. The referee’s decision was swift and left Heidenheim with a mountain to climb. The incident not only robbed the hosts of their main offensive threat but also forced them into a defensive shell against a Dortmund side eager to exploit the numerical advantage.
Dortmund wasted little time in capitalizing. In the 33rd minute, Julian Ryerson delivered a perfectly weighted cross into the box. Serhou Guirassy, already in fine form this season, rose above the defense and powered a header into the far corner of the net. It was his fourth goal in just three Bundesliga games, a testament to his growing influence in Dortmund’s attack. As the ball nestled in the back of the net, the traveling supporters erupted, sensing that their team was in full control. "Guirassy opened their account for the evening with a stunning header into the far corner as Julian Ryerson picked him out inside the box with a perfectly-weighted cross," noted one match report.
Heidenheim, now down to ten men and trailing, struggled to muster any meaningful response. Their defense bent under Dortmund’s pressure, and just before the halftime whistle, the visitors struck again. Deep into first-half stoppage time—six minutes added on due to earlier stoppages—Karim Adeyemi showcased his quick feet and vision, evading his marker before sliding a simple cross-field pass to Maximilian Beier. The young forward made no mistake, finishing easily from close range to double Dortmund’s lead. "Beier made it 2-0 with an easy finish from inside the box as Karim Adeyemi expertly evaded his marker before laying it off for him with a simple cross-field pass," as described in the post-match analysis.
The second half unfolded with Dortmund firmly in the driver’s seat. With a two-goal cushion and a man advantage, they managed the tempo, perhaps with an eye on their upcoming Champions League clash against Juventus. Heidenheim, for their part, showed spirit but rarely threatened to change the narrative. Gregor Kobel, Dortmund’s goalkeeper, enjoyed a quiet evening, required to make only a single save. "Gregor Kobel had a comfortable 90 minutes in goal as he had to make just one save during the time frame," one observer humorously remarked, suggesting the keeper could have "cooked up barbeque in goal and still have come away with a clean sheet."
Dortmund’s control was evident not just in possession but also in their defensive organization. The back three, marshaled by Ryerson and Anton, snuffed out Heidenheim’s rare forays forward. Substitutions in the second half brought fresh legs, with Filippo Mané replacing Felix Nmecha and Cole Campbell coming on for Maximilian Beier. Each change maintained Dortmund’s structure and focus, ensuring that the hosts never found a way back into the contest.
Despite the one-sided nature of the match, Heidenheim’s fans continued to urge their team forward. There were brief moments of hope, such as when Mikkel Kaufmann’s header missed just wide and Arijon Ibrahimovic forced a save from Kobel. However, these flashes were few and far between, with Dortmund’s midfield—anchored by Pascal Groß and Daniel Svensson—dictating play and keeping Heidenheim at bay.
The final whistle confirmed what had been apparent for much of the night: Dortmund had taken care of business with minimal fuss. The 2-0 result reflected their superiority, but also their professionalism in seeing out the game without unnecessary risks. The win lifted Dortmund to two victories from their opening three Bundesliga fixtures, a solid start as they chase domestic and European ambitions.
Looking across the Bundesliga, it was an eventful day elsewhere as well. Stuttgart’s early season struggles continued with a 3-1 defeat at Freiburg, despite taking the lead through Ermedin Demirović’s clever heel finish. Freiburg, who had lost their first two matches and shipped seven goals, bounced back with a brace from Igor Matanović—returning from injury—and a goal from Derry Scherhant. Meanwhile, Cologne and Wolfsburg played out a dramatic 3-3 draw, with Jakub Kaminski scoring in the 14th minute of stoppage time to rescue a point for the visitors. Hoffenheim enjoyed a 4-2 win at Union Berlin, thanks in part to two goals from Fisnik Asllani, while Johan Bakayoko’s strike gave Leipzig a 1-0 win in Mainz. Bayern Munich were set to host promoted Hamburger SV later in the evening, with fans eager to see whether the champions would lay down an early marker.
For Dortmund, the victory over Heidenheim was more than just three points. It was a sign that, even with injuries and a busy schedule, they possess the depth and discipline to navigate tricky away fixtures. Guirassy’s hot streak continues to give them an edge up front, while the team’s ability to control matches bodes well for the challenges ahead.
As the Bundesliga season gathers momentum, Dortmund’s fans will be heartened by this professional display. With a Champions League showdown on the horizon and domestic rivals jostling for position, the Black and Yellows have sent an early message: they’re ready to compete on all fronts.
