Borussia Dortmund and Roma share spoils in entertaining friendly

Borussia Dortmund came back from two goals down to secure a 2-2 pre-season draw at home to Serie A heavyweights Roma, during which all the goals came in the first half.

Borussia Dortmund 2-2 Roma
Goals: 0-1 Dybala 5’, 0-2 Cristante 9’ (assist: Dybala), 2-1 Ryerson 12’ (assist: Svensson), 2-2 Guirassy 28’ (assist: Ryerson)

It was the visitors who started the match in sprightlier fashion at Signal Idunal Park, taking an early lead through Paulo Dybala, who was quickest to react to a loose ball in the box. The home side appeared shellshocked, and the situation was exacerbated in the 12th minute, when Bryan Cristante headed home Dybala’s corner at the near post.

Three minutes later, the hosts pulled one back, Julian Ryerson neatly finishing a Daniel Svensson pass. The momentum begin to swing the way of Dortmund, and Serhou Guirassy pulled his side level in the 28th minute, expertly steering home Ryerson’s free kick with the outside of his boot. There would be no more scoring in an action-packed first half, which had kept the 81,000 crowd highly entertained.

Jobe Bellingham put in a strong performance in midfield for Borussia Dortmund versus Roma on Saturday. - Christof Koepsel

The intensity dropped somewhat in the second half, and although both teams went close – Mile Svila saved well from Konstantinos Karetsas, who also hit the bar with a curling effort, while at the other end Gregor Kobel denied Dybala’s raking free kick – the match would end all square. Niko Kovač will likely be happy with his team’s overall effort, especially in the way they fought back, if a little concerned by the poor marking involved in the goals they conceded.

As it happened!

2 - 2

(2 - 2)

Dortmund

FINAL

Roma

Friendly
Signal Iduna Park

Full-time: Dortmund 2-2 Roma

The second half could not quite live up to the first, and the game finishes in a draw. Both teams had chances to win it, but Svilar and Kobel stood firm in the respective nets. It was nevertheless a useful run-out for both teams, especially in the first half, when the intensity was much higher.

© IMAGO/Bahho Kara

Full-time

89'

Likely no added time

If the first half is anything to go by, we won't have any additional time in Dortmund.

86'

Substitution

Jan Ziólkowski

Evan Ndicka

86'

Substitution

Mattia Mannini

Paulo Dybala

86'

Substitution

Pierluigi Gollini

Mile Svilar

85'

Kobel blocks Dybala's free-kick

Dybala fires in a powerful effort from a set-piece on the edge of the box - Kobel does well to get to it and keep it out.

84'

Six mins to go

Can either side find a winner?

80'

Substitution

Luca Reggiani

Joane Gadou

80'

Silva draws good save from Svilar

Silva bears down on goal but Svilar recognises the threat and comes out well to narrow the angle and make the save!

78'

Strong run by Silva

Silva gets his head down and bursts down the left channel. The Roma defence gets back in time, however, and snuff out the danger.

76'

Substitution

Daniele Ghilardi

Gianluca Mancini

76'

Substitution

Filippo Reale

Emanuele Lulli

75'

Substitution

Robinio Vaz

Matías Soulé

72'

Substitution

Kauã Prates

Julian Ryerson

72'

Substitution

Takato Yamamoto

Felix Nmecha

71'

Castro spurns a good opportunity

Dybala plays in substitute Castro, but he shoots wide when one-on-one with Kobel - big chance!

69'

Kobel saves!

Soulé's effort is well saved by Kobel!

65'

Quiet phase

Following those subs, the game has entered a bit of a lull, with both teams content to pass the ball around and give the new players a touch or two.

61'

Flurry of subs

Both managers make changes - there are four for Roma and three for Dortmund, including Silva slotting in for Guirassy.

60'

Substitution

Manu Koné

Neil El Aynaoui

60'

Substitution

Marcel Sabitzer

Konstantinos Karetsas

60'

Substitution

Mathis Albert

Samuele Inácio

60'

Substitution

Fábio Silva

Serhou Guirassy

60'

Substitution

Nahuel Molina

Devyne Rensch

60'

Substitution

Konstantinos Koulierakis

Mario Hermoso

60'

Substitution

Santiago Castro

Donyell Malen

58'

Deflected over

Nmecha's free-kick from the edge of the box hits the wall and goes over for a corner.

56'

Nmecha fires wide!

Nmecha shoots again from outside the area, but the ball fizzes wide of the left-hand post!

51'

Karetsas goes close again!

That's a smart passing move by Dortmund, which culminates in Karetsas firing a shot in from the angle that Svilar has to parry around the post!

48'

Off the bar!

Karetsas picks up the ball outside the box, looks up and curls an impressive shot off the woodwork! Good start to the second half by the Black and Yellows.

46'

The second half is underway!

Will we see as many goals in the second half as we did in the first?

Kick-off!

Half-time: Dortmund 2-2 Roma

The half-time whistle goes on a highly entertaining first period at Signal Iduna Park. Roma raced to a 2-0 lead early on through Dybala and Cristante, but Dortmund fought back via Ryerson and Guirassy. If there's the same amount of action in the second half, the 81,000 fans present in Dortmund should be in for a treat!

© Christof Koepsel

Half-time

43'

Nice run from Karetsas

The attack-minded Greek dribbles his way into the right-hand side of the box, but his cross is cut out by Rensch for a corner.

40'

Dortmund pushing

Good work by Ryerson is eventually wasted by a wayward cross by Bensebaini. Dortmund are looking to complete their comeback before half-time.

35'

Nmecha has a go

Nmecha shoots from just outside the box, but Svilar, well-positioned again, collects the ball comfortably.

30'

Svilar denies Inácio

Karetsas feeds Inácio, whose effort is saved by Svilar!

29'

Incredible chance!

That should have been 3-2 to Roma! Malen pops the ball across the face of goal, but Rensch, at full stretch, can only knock the ball wide.

The home side are level!

It's 2-2! The non-stop action at Signal Iduna Park continues, as Guirassy pokes home an equaliser from Ryerson's free-kick.

© IMAGO/Bahho Kara

28'

Serhou Guirassy

GOAL!

2:2

25'

Roma probing down the right

Lulli and Dybala are combining well on the right flank, and Die Schwarzgelben are struggling to shut them down.

21'

Guirassy unlucky

Guirassy picks up a long ball from Kobel and for a split-second looks like he might be through on goal. He mis-controls the ball, though, and the chance is gone.

17'

Dortmund have woken up

The home side look a lot better since getting that goal back, driving the ball forward on a couple of occasions. Inácio, in particular, is starting to make a nuisance of himself.

Dortmund back in it!

The hosts pull one back with their first meaningful attack, Ryerson converting Svensson's pass!

© IMAGO/Bahho Kara

12'

Julian Ryerson

GOAL!

1:2

Roma double their lead!

Great start by the Serie A side - Dybala's corner is headed home at the near post by Cristante!

© Christof Koepsel

9'

Bryan Cristante

GOAL!

0:2

7'

Italians on top

Roma continue to dominate: they earn a couple of corners, and Nmecha is forced to clear after a scramble.

Roma take the lead

Dybala pounces in the box to slot home and open the scoring in Dortmund!

© IMAGO/Bahho Kara

4'

Paulo Dybala

GOAL!

0:1

3'

Bright start from the visitors

Lulli wins a corner, but it comes to nothing.

1'

And we're off!

The ball is rolling in this friendly match at Signal Iduna Park.

Kick-off!

Issue with the goal net

Kick-off has been delayed in Dortmund, as there's a little problem with one of the goals. The refs are on the case, however, and we should be underway shortly.

0:17

Former player Hummels gets a warm reception

The players are out on the pitch

We've got about 30 mins to kick-off!

© Christof Koepsel

More on that Dortmund side

Kobel, Guirassy and Ryerson come in to the side that started against Arsenal, with Meier, Silva and Beier dropping out. It's a pretty attacking line-up from Niko Kovač.

© IMAGO/Maik Hölter/TEAM2sportphoto

Dortmund starting XI

Kobel – Bensebaini, Mané, Gadou – Bellingham, Nmecha (c), Svensson, Ryerson – Guirassy, Inácio, Karetsas

Roma starting XI

Svilar – Ndicka, Mancini, Hermoso – Rensch, Cristante, El Aynaoui, Lulli – Soulé, Dybala, Malen

Up and down

Roma's pre-season results have been a mixed bag so far. A 3-3 draw with French side Cannes was followed by a 4-1 defeat and a win by the same scoreline in Wales, versus Cardiff City and Newport County respectively. Last weekend, the Italians lost again, this time to English Premier League outfit Brighton (3-0). Gian Piero Gasperini's men will be looking for a morale-boosting victory in Dortmund today.

© IMAGO/Gino Mancini/IPA Sport

Bundesliga Romans

Malen isn't the only Roma star with a past in Germany's top flight. Former Eintracht Frankfurt defender Evan Ndicka and ex-Wolfsburg man Konstantinos Koulierakis (pictured) are in their ranks, while they also boast former Gladbach midfielder Manu Koné.

© IMAGO/IPA Sport/ABACA

Collector's item

In competitive settings, these sides have only ever faced each other twice before, with both meetings coming in a two-leg UEFA Cup quarter-final tie back in March 1993. Both teams won their respective home fixtures, with the Italian side claiming an initial 1-0 triumph before Dortmund overturned the deficit two weeks later, winning 2-0 at the Westfalenstadion. After advancing past Roma, BVB went on to reach the final, where they were soundly beaten 6-1 by Juventus.

Kabar heads for Holland

One young talent who will have to wait to make his mark at Dortmund is Almugera Kabar, who has joined Dutch Eredivisie side NEC Nijmegen on a season-long loan.

© IMAGO/DeFodi.de

Kovač delighted with young stars

The Dortmund boss liked what he saw from the likes of Karetsas, Gadou (pictured), Prates and Mané against the Gunners. "In the first half, you could see the qualities Kosta brings, we can see that he is a really good footballer," enthused Kovač. "Filippo also played a really good game today, the two defenders really cleaned up," he continued. "Filippo, but also Joane: That's pure power. That's real force." On Prates, he said: "You could see that he's very skillful on the ball, very fast, and has real power."

© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Marcel von Fehrn

Settling in at BVB

New signings Konstantinos Karetsas (pictured) and Joane Gadou were both on target in Dortmund's recent friendly win over Arsenal, while Kauã Prates also appeared in that impressive performance. Gadou has played in all of their pre-season games so far, and looks ready for his first Bundesliga campaign.

© IMAGO/DeFodi.de

No El Mala transfer

BVB managing director Lars Ricken confirmed on Friday that Dortmund had been in talks with Cologne about potentially signing exciting Germany winger Saïd El Mala, but that a move will not go ahead: "[He's] is not a Dortmund player, and he will not become one this summer. Over the past few days, we held open discussions with the officials at Cologne, but they rejected our final offer. Dortmund will not submit another and will no longer pursue the transfer."

© IMAGO/Thiemo Rudolph

0:26

Will Malen haunt BVB?

Sold out

Dortmund have confirmed that all 81,365 tickets have been sold for Saturday's friendly, which forms part of Borussia's official season-opening event. Both the men's and women's teams will introduce their new signings to the Signal Iduna Park crowd, with Dortmund Women set to face their Roma counterparts at the next-door Stadion Rote Erde at 1pm CEST.

© IMAGO/Maximilian Koch

Malen returns

Donyell Malen is back at his old stomping ground this weekend, having made 132 appearances for Dortmund between 2021 and 2025. The Dutchman, who joined Roma back in January, is only the fifth player to have represented both these clubs, after Jürgen Schütz, Thomas Häßler, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Mats Hummels.

© IMAGO/Bahho Kara

Roma back at Europe's top table

Dortmund could meet Roma again in the UEFA Champions League this season after the Giallorossi qualified for Europe's premier club competition for the first time since 2018/2019. Gian Piero Gasperini, who led Atalanta to victory in the 2023/2024 UEFA Europa League, guided the club to a third-place finish in Serie A in his first season in charge.

© FRANCK FIFE

'We've made progress'

Sunday's victory over Arsenal suggests Dortmund are right on track in their preparations for the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup against Bayern. Head coach Niko Kovač is certainly impressed with his side's efforts in pre-season, telling reporters after the 3-2 win: "There are still a few things to correct, but we've made progress."

© CARLOS JASSO

Hello and welcome!

Thank you for joining us for build-up and live match coverage of Borussia Dortmund's pre-season friendly with Roma as we approach the start of the 2026/27 season.

About the players

19

Konstantinos

Karetsas

Midfielder

Borussia Dortmund

8

Felix

Nmecha

Midfielder

Borussia Dortmund

About the clubs

Borussia Dortmund

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