Donyell Malen seals narrow win for Borussia Dortmund over Sturm Graz
Donyell Malen struck from the substitutes' bench to give Borussia Dortmund their third win out of four in the UEFA Champions League as last season's beaten finalists continued their flawless home run this season in a tight encounter against Sturm Graz.
Dortmund showed the confidence that has taken them to six wins out of six at home in all competitions this term, gaining an early stranglehold on the play against the reigning Austrian champions. BVB combined confidently with Marcel Sabitzer having a pair of early chances - the second of which forced Sturm Graz goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen into a double save as he got a foot to keep out Maximilian Beier on the rebound. Serhou Guirassy also sent a couple of efforts from the edge of the box narrowly wide. Graz battled hard and fashioned a couple of minor openings themselves, with Alexander Meyer flying to save from Otar Kiteishvili and Jusuf Gazibegovic guiding a shot from a tight angle wide. Beier did brilliantly to glide past three defenders and slide the ball past Scherpen just before the break, but Kiteishvili cleared and the tie remained deadlocked.
Dortmund started the second period in a similar tone to the first, penning Graz back and looking intently for a breakthrough. Guirassy and Sabitzer both had efforts blocked, before Nico Schlotterbeck had a fierce drive from distance saved. Instead of Dortmund finding an extra gear to force a way, through, it was the visitors who upped the ante in their efforts to contain Dortmund and launch occasional attacks of their own. Mika Biereth headed a great chance wide from the near post and Gazibegovic had a dipping effort saved by Meyer as Sturm threatened to finish strongly. Dortmund substitute Malen had other ideas, however, meeting a Guirassy lay-off crisply after Graz had given the ball away to seal the important points and maintain Dortmund's perfect home record in 2024/25.
Match stats
This was the first competitive meeting between Dortmund and Graz.
Dortmund remained the top scorers in the Champions League this season on Tuesday night with 13 goals, spread around six players.
Gittens has three of those goals. Only two English players aged under 21 have ever scored more in a single Champions League campaign: Alan Smith for Leeds United (five in 2000/01) and Jude Bellingham for BVB and Real Madrid (four in 2022/23 and 2023/24).
Borussia are now unbeaten in their last 13 home games in the Champions League, winning nine and drawing four going back to 2021.
Graz have never beaten German opposition in a European competition (D1, L6).
Lovro Zvonarek, 19, has played five senior games for parent club Bayern Munich, scoring one Bundesliga goal. He made his professional debut in his native Croatia as a 16-year-old and even captained Slaven Belupo.
Champions League League phase, Matchday 4 League phase, Matchday 4 Signal Iduna Park
Full-time: Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Sturm Graz
Dortmund take their third win out of four in the UEFA Champions League! The relief is palpable in Signal Iduna Park as last season's finalists edge a tight encounter with Sturm Graz, with substitute Donyell Malen sealing a deserved win with a late strike.
Just when the game seemed to be heading to a certain draw, Dortmund finally strike! Graz give the ball away in their build-up play - not for the first time - and Guriassy lays it off for the substitute Malen to send a crisp drive into the corner of the net.
The visitors have kept on working away and are showing signs of finishing strongly - winning a corner and Gazibegovic dipping a tricky ball to the far post that Meyer did well to hang onto before it hit the roof of the net.
77'
On comes Campbell
US under-19 international Cole Campbell comes on the final phases.
That has been the best chance for Sturm Graz so far, as Biereth heads over the crossbar at the near post following a great cross from the right.
In the balance
As we head into the final 20 minutes, Dortmund will be wondering just how they aren't ahead, yet Sturm Graz have certainly shown enough goal threat on the break to warn the hosts against going hell for leather in the final stages.
Schlotterbeck strikes from distance and Scherpen parries his powerful shot away.
56'
Action at both ends
The tenth corner of the evening is the Austrian side's first - but they are penalised for a foul in the box. Scherpen flies out of his area to head before Sabitzer can pounce on the break, and the Dortmund midfielder has a shot blocked moments later on a fluent move.
51'
Groß sends in another corner
That's the ninth corner of the match so far for the hosts, but the white shirts of Sturm Graz are organised again and have no problem clearing it.
49'
Groß cross saved
Pascal Groß floats a free-kick in from the left that Scherpen claims confidently.
Can Dortmund make the breakthrough in the second period? We're underway again, with the visitors making a half-time change.
Kick-off!
Half-time: Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Sturm Graz
Borussia Dortmund are level at the break despite outplaying their Austrian visitors. Guirassy and Sabitzer both went close a couple of times before Beier almost sealed a superb solo charge just before the break - but the Graz defence has held firm.
Almost a goal to remember! Maxi Beier drifts past three defenders in the box before sliding a shot past Scherpen - only for Kiteishvili to smash the ball away before it can cross the goal line.
41'
Groß and Gittens combine from corner
Pascal Groß and Jamie Gittens play a short corner that leads to Groß crossing the ball to the far post, where Schlotterbeck leaves it when he might have guided a header on goal. Dortmund end up with their eighth corner of the first half, which leads to Bensebaini having an effort blocked.
37'
Gittens cross grabbed by Scherpen
The young English winger floats a cross from the left across the area as Dortmund continue to hunt for an opener - but it sails through for Scherpen to take hold of the ball.
33'
Groß cross met by Guirassy
Groß turns the ball in and Serhou Guirassy lets fly with a diving header but miscues his acrobatic effort.
32'
Gazibegović almost grabs lead
The Sturm Graz full-back pulls the ball back on the left of the area, and the ball bobbles up for him nicely to curl an effort just wide of the far post.
28'
Guirassy goes close
Another chance to Dortmund after Graz give the ball away in their build-up play. It is fed to Serhou Guirassy on the edge of the area whose drive is turned behind by Scherpen in the Graz goal.
Hosts on top
Dortmund have hit six shots to Graz's one so far - although the visitors can take encouragement from the way they have battled their way to a greater share of the play in recent minutes.
Signs again of the promising attacking partnership that flourished against Leipzig at the weekend. Maximilian Beier cuts the ball across from the right for Serhou Guirassy to take on the edge of the box, but his fellow new signing can't get his shot away.
16'
Meyer makes a save
Sturm Graz show they are not out of this despite Dortmund's dominant opening. Alexander Meyer zips across to keep out a Kiteishvili effort on the break.
15'
Double Dortmund chance!
Dortmund are building the pressure after a strong start. Marcel Sabitzer has a sharp shot saved well by Scherpen - who gets up to turn a Beier effort from the near post behind from a tight angle.
13'
Gittens effort deflected behind
Graz gift the ball to Dortmund just outside their area, and Jamie Gittens has a go on the edge of the box. A Sturm Graz defender gets a foot to it and turns the ball behind, leading to another corner, which the visitors defend capably.
10'
Gazibegović crosses free-kick in
The visitors get into the Dortmund area for the first time - with Gazibegović swinging a free-kick in from the left that is instantly cleared.
8'
Corner to Dortmund
A Beier ball in from the right is deflected behind - giving Groß the chance to curl a corner in that Sturm clear.
6'
Sabitzer heads first shot
The Austrian midfielder takes aim against the Austrian champions by getting a head to a Groß cross around the penalty spot - but sends the effort wide.
2'
Gittens down
That's certainly not what Nuri Sahin wanted to see - with Dortmund facing a mammoth injury crisis, Jamie Gittens goes down after colliding with an opponent in the opening seconds. It looks like he took a painful blow to his face, but after some treatment he can play on.
1'
We're underway
The Austrian champions kick off after a moment's silence in honour of the victims of the recent flooding in Spain.
Kick-off!
The teams are out
It's a chilly November night in Dortmund with the Yellow Wall in full voice - what a setting for a Champions League evening!
Perfect (home) ten in sight
Dortmund have won all six of their home matches in all competitions so far this season and have won all of their past nine at Signal Iduna Park going back to last campaign.
Dortmund's severe injury crisis means only eight of their 12 spots on the substitutes' bench have been filled. Four of those substitutes are teenagers, while Donyell Malen is the only name with substantial first-team experience for Dortmund on it.
More on that Dortmund team
Nuri Şahin sticks with the same starting XI that impressed in a 2-1 win over Leipzig at the weekend despite a mammoth injury list limiting his options. Pascal Groß therefore starts again in the unfamiliar right-back role with Maximilian Beier (pictured) getting a chance to add to his first goal for his new club in the Bundesliga encounter with another start.
Dortmund have faced Austrian sides eight times in European competition, winning four times. This will be their first match against Graz.
Selection issues for Şahin
Serhou Guirassy, Maximilian Beier, Marcel Sabitzer and Ramy Bensebaini did not train ahead of tonight's match. Gregor Kobel, Waldemar Anton, Niklas Süle, Julian Ryerson, Kjell Wätjen, Gio Reyna, Karim Adeyemi and Julien Duranville remain injured.
More on Graz
BVB's opponents have lost all three of their Champions League matches and are 32nd out of 36 teams in the league phase. However, the Austrians still present plenty of danger, having won a league and cup double last season, they're once again top of the Austrian Bundesliga this term. Impressive head coach Christian Ilzer has even been linked with a move to Germany.
"Sturm Graz is not my favourite... You have to acknowledge that they are doing very well. Especially in the last two or three years. They have overtaken Salzburg a little and have a clear philosophy. You have to take your hat off to them."
This will be the first time that these two sides have met, and it will certainly be an interesting tie given the Austrian side's league form. Altogether, Dortmund have faced Austrian opponents just eight times competitively, and have won four, drawn two and lost two of those meetings.
Sahin: It will be very difficult
Speaking on the opposition, Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin was full of praise, telling the official club website: "Graz is a club that has worked exceptionally well in recent years. It will be a very, very difficult task for us tomorrow."
The visitors are yet to win in Europe this season, losing all three of their opening three UCL matches. Could their fortunes change against Dortmund, or will Nuri Sahin's side be too strong?
Back on track
Dortmund won two of their first three Champions League games, and looked on course to record a huge victory away to Real Madrid, but ultimately fell to a 5-2 defeat. Their recent league win against Leipzig should restore confidence ahead of their meeting with Sturm Graz however.
Dortmund ended Leipzig's unbeaten league run with a strong performance at home.
Welcome!
Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of Borussia Dortmund's fourth UEFA Champions League game of the 2024/25 league phase at home to Sturm Graz on Tuesday.
