Jamie Gittens' second-half double secured a 2-0 victory for Borussia Dortmund over Eintracht Frankfurt at Signal Iduna Park in Nuri Şahin's first Bundesliga game as head coach.

Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Eintracht Frankfurt
Goals: 1-0 Gittens 72' (assist: Groß), 2-0 Gittens 90'+3 (assist: Bensebaini)

The fixture list threw up a challenging first league game for Şahin as they hosted 2021/22 UEFA Europa League winners Frankfurt, and it proved to be a cagey first half in the Ruhr. While Dino Toppmöller's side started positively, the game's first real opportunity did not arrive until the 28th minute, when Hugo Larsson's controlled volley from the edge of the area flew narrowly wide of Gregor Kobel's post. That effort appeared to kick the encounter into gear, with Marcel Sabitzer and Julian Brandt both seeing attempts saved before the break. At the other end, Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitiké flicked into Kobel's hands as the Eagles, featuring new signings Arthur Theate and Rasmus Kristensen at left- and right-back respectively, looked to put their opponents under pressure.

The second half started off in similar fashion to the first, with the two XIs searching for an opening. Brandt went close early on, hammering a drive just over the crossbar, before Omar Marmoush powerfully shot straight at Kobel down the other end. After introducing new signing Maximilian Beier, Dortmund subsequently tried their luck from distance through centre-backs Nico Schlotterbeck and Niklas Süle, but to no avail. Ultimately, a spell of two minutes midway through the second half proved crucial in deciding the game's outcome. Shortly after Farès Chaïbi had missed an open goal, Dortmund broke the deadlock through substitute Gittens. It was a lovely finish, too, as the Englishman cut inside onto his right foot before firing into the top corner. That effort ultimately took the sting out of the visitors, and Gittens put the game to bed in injury time by finishing off a counter-attack.

Match stats

• Dortmund have now won each of their past 10 Bundesliga curtain-raisers, which is the longest active run.
• They are also now unbeaten in their last seven meetings with Frankfurt, winning six, and have only lost one of the previous 16 (2-1, 2020/21).
• Gittens already has more Bundesliga goals as he managed in the entirety of the 2023/24 campaign (one).
• Frankfurt have won just one of their past 10 Bundesliga games (four draws, five defeats).
• Eagles captain Kevin Trapp was making his 300th Bundesliga appearance.
• There's been at least one goal in the last 57 Bundesliga meetings between Dortmund and Frankfurt, dating back to a goalless draw in Dortmund on 11 April 1990.

Sign Gittens for your Fantasy Team for 10M!

Watch: Jamie Gittens happy after match-winning display

Want more Bundesliga Action?

GET THE UPDATES!

Teams

Dortmund: Kobel - Süle, Anton, Schlotterbeck – Malen (Beier 59'), Can (c) (Reyna 81'), Groß, Ryerson - Sabitzer (Nmecha 81'), Brandt (Bensebaini 85') - Adeyemi (Gittens 59')
Unused subs: Meyer, Couto, Haller, Duranville
Out: Guirassy (knee), Wätjen (knee)
Coach: Nuri Şahin

Frankfurt: Trapp (c) - Kristensen, Tuta, Koch, Theate (Nkounkou 69') - Skhiri, Larsson - Marmoush (Matanović 69'), Götze (Højlund 76'), Chaibi (Uzun 76') - Ekitiké (Knauff 77')
Unused subs: Santos, Amenda, Collins, Bahoya
Out: Lisztes (ill), Loune (knee)
Coach: Dino Toppmöller

Watch: Nuri Şahin reflects on winning start

About the clubs

Borussia Dortmund

SIGNAL IDUNA PARK

Eintracht Frankfurt

Deutsche Bank Park