Facing frustration in their UEFA Champions League opener in Belgium, Borussia Dortmund turned to super sub Jamie Gittens to get them over the line with another double to add to his season's tally.

Club Brugge 0-3 Borussia Dortmund
Goals: 0-1 Gittens 76' (assist: Can), 0-2 Gittens 86', 0-3 Guirassy (pen.) 90'+5

Dortmund's journey to last season's UEFA Champions League final began with a loss away to Paris Saint-Germain and the Black-and-Yellows were on the road again as they began a fresh crack at European club football's elite tournament. The Bundesliga side looked determined to start with a splash in Belgium when Karim Adeyemi - BVB's two-goal hero in last weekend's win against Heidenheim - tested experienced Brugge goalkeeper Simon Mignolet with a rasping shot the custodian was forced to push away. The Belgian champions responded and were inches away from taking the lead after Hugo Vetlesen hooked a close-range shot against the underside of the crossbar after Gregor Kobel had saved Raphael Onyedika's effort. The visitors had the youngest coach in this season's Champions League in Nuri Şahin and the 36-year-old had his head in his hands when Adeyemi's strike from a tight angle was blocked by the assured Mignolet. At the other end, Kobel was proving just as efficient, expertly denying Andreas Skov Olsen.  

The action spilled over into the second half at the Jan Breydel Stadium, yet efforts from Marcel Sabitzer, Hans Vanaken and Vetlesen resembled more probing jabs when what both sides sought was a knock-down punch. Şahin threw a couple of his big hitters in Gittens and Felix Nmecha into the fight. With a little under a quarter of an hour to go, Dortmund had their opponents on the canvas with Gittens taking advantage of some patient Emre Can build-up before sending a shot at goal that took a couple of deflections before nestling into the top corner. The 20-year-old's second career Champions League goal followed a Bundesliga Matchday 1 double against Eintracht Frankfurt, also off the bench. He repeated that feat before the end here, cutting in from the left before firing into the corner. Serhou Guirassy's first goal for Dortmund arrived from the penalty spot in injury time to give last season's Champions League finalists the perfect start to this season's competition. 

Match stats

• Gittens now has three UEFA Champions League goals. He scored against AC Milan in last season's group stage. 
• At 36, Şahin is the youngest head coach in this season's Champions League, and greenest since a 35-year-old Matthias Sammer's Dortmund played in the 2002/03 edition.
• As a player, Şahin made 24 Champions League appearances (20 for Dortmund, four for Real Madrid).
• Julian Brandt is eighth on the all-time list for most Champions League outings in Dortmund colours. This was his 40th in the tournament. Fan favourite Marco Reus - now of LA Galaxy - leads the way on 72.
• Dortmund kept their fifth clean sheet against Brugge and have now won all encounters against the Belgian side. They become the first club in the history of the competition has ever played five games against one team without conceding. 
• Winners in 1996/97, when the final was also in Munich, Dortmund are also two-time runners-up (2012/13 & 2023/24). They have gone beyond the first phase in eight of the last 10 seasons.

Teams

Brugge: Mignolet - Seys (Sabbe 71'), Ordóñez, Mechele, De Cuyper - Vetlesen (Vermant 85'), Onyedika - Skov Olsen, Vanaken (c), Tzolis (Talbi 85') - Nilsson (Jutglá 65')
unused subs: Jackers, Romero, Nielsen, Jashari, Skóraś
Out: Meijer (knee)
Coach: Nicky Hayen 

Dortmund: Kobel - Ryerson, Süle, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini (Anton 59')- Can (c), Groß (Nmecha 68') - Sabitzer (Gittens 68'), Brandt, Malen (Guirassy 59') - Adeyemi (Couto 87')
Unused subs: Meyer, Lotka, Beier, Duranville, Kabar, Azhil
Out: Reyna (groin)
Coach: Nuri Şahin

0 - 3

(0 - 0)

Brugge

FINAL

Dortmund

Champions League
League phase, Matchday 1 League phase, Matchday 1 Jan Breydelstadion, Bruges

Full time: Brugge 0-3 Dortmund

The scoreline is probably a tad harsh on Brugge, who were excellent for large spells before tiring late on. Two supersubs swung the game Dortmund's way, with a quickfire double from Gittens securing the points and Guirassy adding the icing on the cake with a late penalty.

© Imago Images

Full-time

90'

+ 6

Guirassy seals it

The summer signing scores his first goal for Dortmund, scooping the ball straight down the middle after Mignolet dived off to his left early.

90'

+ 5

Serhou Guirassy

GOAL!

0:3

90'

+ 3

Penalty to Dortmund!

Guirassy is felled as he runs into the box and it's a spot-kick for BVB.

87'

Substitution

Yan Couto

Karim Adeyemi

87'

What a goal!

It's a similar goal to Dortmund's first as Gittens collects the ball on the left-hand side of the Brugge penalty area again. He executes a couple of step-overs as he cuts back onto his right foot before drilling a low shot inside the far post. A brilliant finish!

86'

Jamie Gittens

GOAL!

0:2

Third of the season for Gittens

After coming off the bench to score twice in Dortmund's 2-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on Bundesliga Matchday 1, the 20-year-old looks to be BVB's match-winner once again with his third goal of 2024/25.

© Getty Images

80'

Brandt nearly makes it 2-0!

Adeyemi races forward before slipping the ball to Brandt, off to his right. He cuts on to his left foot and shoots from the edge of the box but it's deflected wide.

77'

Breakthrough!

Can slides the ball to his left to Gittens, on the left-hand side of the Brugge box. He jinks inside onto his right foot and shoots. The English youngster's effort takes a deflection and loops up over Mignolet and into the far corner!

76'

Jamie Gittens

GOAL!

0:1

72'

Penalty appeal

The ball bounces off the turf and onto Süle's hand inside the BVB area. The home players - and crowd - appeal for a penalty but the referee waves play on. Süle's arm was in a natural position and not extending his body's surface area.

69'

More changes for BVB

This match is still finely poised and could go wither way. Şahin makes another effort to try and swing momentum Dortmund's way by making attacking changes, with Gittens and Nmecha now on for Groß and Sabitzer.

68'

Substitution

Felix Nmecha

Pascal Groß

68'

Substitution

Jamie Gittens

Marcel Sabitzer

65'

Substitution

Ferran Jutglá

Gustaf Nilsson

63'

Anton intervenes

Tzolis receives the ball in a central position and immediately charges forward. He tries to take on Anton, but the Dortmund centre-back is having none of it and clears the ball away with a minimum of fuss.

4:18

Watch: The best of Guirassy

And here comes Guirassy. Take a look at what the former Stuttgart forward is capable of...

59'

Substitution

Serhou Guirassy

Donyell Malen

59'

Substitution

Waldemar Anton

Ramy Bensebaini

Fnishing touch needed

Dortmund are creating the chances but just can't finish them off. With Guirassy and Beier both on the bench, coach Şahin appears to have the solution at his disposal...

© Imago Images

56'

Malen off target!

The Dutchman sprints into space, creates a pocket to shoot and drags his effort just wide of the far post from 16 yards.

54'

Just wide from Sabitzer!

Adeyemi wins a free-kick in a promising position, a couple of yards outside the Brugge box, left of centre. Sabitzer takes it, curling a low shot around the wall but also just wide of the far post.

52'

Sabitzer from way out!

Mignolet comes way off his line to make a clearance but gifts the ball to Sabitzer, who's inside the centre circle. He attempts a first-time volley with the goalkeeper in no-man's land, but gets it all wrong and the ball sails high and wide.

50'

Bensebaini vital

Vetlesen causes mischief again as he ghosts behind the BVB defence, but Bensebaini scampers back to mop up.

48'

Over from Tzolis

Tzolis rises highest to meet a cross from the right but he can't keep his header down and it sails over.

46'

Under way again

The home side get the ball rolling in the second half.

Kick-off!

Half-time: Brugge 0-0 Dortmund

No goals as yet but it's been a great half of football. Both teams have been on top in spells and there have been some decent openings at either end. You get the sense the first goal might well be decisive here.

© Imago Images

Half-time

44'

Brilliant from Adeyemi!

The Dortmund attacker gets past Ordoñez with ease down Dortmund's left and crosses low into the middle. Malen just needs to give it a touch to go in but De Cuyper steps across to hoof it clear.

40'

Wobbling

Brugge have got back into the game and are exerting some serious pressure as the half-time whistle approaches. Dortmund have looked a tad shaky at the back but somehow still manage to keep their hosts at bay.

37'

Kobel!

Skov Olsen scurries into the Dortmund box down the right and skips past Groß before getting a shot away. Kobel produces a superb reaction save at his near post to push the ball out for a corner.

Great escape

Schlotterbeck's (2nd r.) face says it all as Dortmund survived a goalmouth scramble earlier on.

© Imago Images

33'

Süle the rock

Tzolis tries to take on Süle inside the Dortmund box, cutting inside from the left. The attacker bumps into the big defender and goes to ground, appealing for a penalty, but the referee remains unmoved and signals for play to continue.

30'

Schlotterbeck involved

Dortmund have now pushed high into the Brugge half but are finding it difficult to break the hosts down. With Brandt, Malen and Adeyemi all darting around to try and find space, Schlotterbeck is seeing a lot of the ball. The centre-back is known for his excellent vision and pinpoint passing, but even he hasn't had any joy as yet.

27'

Probing

Brugge have been on top for the last few minutes so Dortmund do well to take the sting out of the game and stroke the ball around among themselves.

24'

Skov Olsen has a go

The home side get forward well, passing their way around Dortmund's press, and all of a sudden Skov Olsen has space to attack. He shoots from 20 yards out but his left-footed drive is straight at Kobel, who makes a routine save.

19'

A goal is in the air

Brugge attack well again and pull Dortmund's defence out of shape. A couple of long-range shots are blocked before BVB concede a corner, making it feel like a goal is coming sooner rather than later.

16'

Süle the playmaker

Süle fizzes a stunning ball through a crowd and into the box for Malen, whose first touch is superb. He shoots on the spin but is thwarted by Mignolet sticking out a leg.

Blink and you miss it

Adeyemi has been lively for Dortmund so far, but they're not having things all their own way in Belgium.

© Getty Images

12'

Off the bar!

Chaos in the Dortmund box as they struggle to clear their lines from a corner. The ball falls to Onyedika, whose rasping shot is well saved by Kobel, but the rebound falls to Vetlesen, who smashes a close-range effort on the turn onto the crossbar! A huge let-off for Dortmund there.

11'

Bensebaini alert

While Dortmund have been on top so far, Brugges also look really sharp. An attack down the left culminates with a cross to the back post, where Bensebaini arrives to head out for a corner with an attacker lurking behind him.

7'

Adeyemi has a go!

The attacker finally finds some space and immediately lets fly with an effort from outside the box that Mignolet does well to paw clear.

4'

Malen goes close!

The Dutchman meets a long ball floated towards the back post. He doesn't make a clean connection with his volley back across goal, it it still eludes the Brugges defence before bobbling just wide.

3'

End to end

There's been no taking it easy or settling into a rhythm here: both teams are on the front foot at pace. No clear chances yet, but both defences have been stretched already.

1'

Peeeep!

Here we go!

Kick-off!

The Chaaaaaaampions!

The competition anthem blares out around the stadium as the players line up on the pitch. It's almost go-time here!

Getting into gear

Captain Can is leading by example as the BVB players warm up.

© Getty Images

No Guirassy, no Beier...

It's an interesting team selection from Şahin, opting to start without a recognised forward and leaving both Guirassy and Beier on the bench for now. Adeyemi has been playing very well recently though, while having some extra steel in midfield in the form of Can, Groß and Sabitzer is probably a wise move against a physical home side.

Three changes for Dortmund

Following their 4-2 win over Heidenheim in the Bundesliga on Friday, head coach Şahin has made three changes to his side: Anton, Nmecha and Guirassy all drop to the bench, with Schlotterbeck, Can and Sabitzer starting instead.

Brugge starting XI

Mignolet - Seys, Ordóñez, Mechele, De Cuyper - Vetlesen, Onyedika - Skov Olsen, Vanaken (c), Tzolis - Nilsson

Brugge subs

Jackers, Romero, Jutglá, Vermant, Nielsen, Jashari, Sabbe, Talbi, Skóraś

Dortmund starting XI

Kobel - Ryerson, Süle, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini - Can (c), Groß - Sabitzer, Brandt, Malen - Adeyemi

Dortmund subs

Meyer, Lotka, Couto, Anton, Nmecha, Guirassy, Beier, Duranville, Kabar, Gittens, Azhil

0:57

Watch: Dortmund chasing another UCL dream

Winners in 1996/97, but runners-up up in 2012/13 and last season - will BVB go one better this term?

2:56

Watch: All of Karim Adeyemi's Bundesliga goals and assists

The youngster was on form against Heidenheim, finding the back of the net twice and providing an assist. Take a look at his Bundesliga goal contributions to remind yourself of his threat.

Club Brugge team news

Like his Dortmund counterpart, Nicky Hayen has little to worry about in terms of absentees - Bjorn Meijer is the only doubt due to a knee injury. Andreas Skov Olsen, Hans Vanaken and former Fortuna Düsseldorf winger Christos Tzolis are all in contention to start and are expected to be the Belgian outfit's danger men.

© IMAGO/Jan De Meuleneir

Borussia Dortmund team news

Nuri Şahin has close to a full squad to choose from, with only Giovanni Reyna unavailable as he recovers from an groin strain. Nico Schlotterbeck was suspended for Friday's victory over Heidenheim but should return here, while Serhou Guirassy could make his Champions League debut for his new club.

© IMAGO/Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images

Goals galore

Last term, BVB had 12 different goalscorers in this competition, a joint-lead with Manchester City.

Tale of the tape

This will be the 10th meeting between the two sides, with the last coming in November 2020. Dortmund won on that occasion, which they have done four other times as well, while Brugge have three victories to their name. The first match-up came in 1987, when Dortmund prevailed on penalties in their round of 16 tie after drawing 3-3 on aggregate.

Brugge's solid start to the season

Last term's Belgian champions currently sit second in the table, three points behind league leaders Genk. They have won four of their opening seven games, drawing one and losing two, while they also suffered a Belgian Supercup loss to Union St. Gilloise.

The view from Brugge

Head coach Nicky Hayen spoke to the press prior to the clash and said: "Do we have to get points right away? We don't have to, we want to. The ambition is to reach the play-off round, but you really shouldn't underestimate Dortmund. There were finalists last season. Maybe they are still searching for their top form a little, but there are still a lot of players who performed so well last term. We will have to rise above ourselves. Every team has a bad moment, and we have to try to profit from that."

© IMAGO/BRUNO FAHY

2:03

Watch: Dortmund 4-2 Heidenheim - highlights

Dortmund were in impressive form with Karim Adeyemi grabbing two goals in a fine win last Friday, which came 24 hours before Brugge won 3-0 at Kortrijk on Saturday. It was the Belgian club's fourth win in their first seven league games this season.

European pedigree

Last season's runners-up are in their 19th Champions League campaign and ninth in a row. All but two of the last 11 have seen them reach the knockout stages.

How do the new European competition formats work?

The UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Conference League have all undergone a revamp for the 2024/25 season. There are more teams, more games and a new ‘Swiss’-style format. Check out the article on bundesliga.com to find out how it’s all going to work.

© imago sportfotodienst

12:00

Borussia Dortmund: the lowdown

It's time to school up on Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund ahead of their UEFA Champions League first phase campaign.

Incomings

Dortmund were busy bringing in reinforcements too. Last season's second-highest scorer in the Bundesliga, Serhou Guirassy, was signed from VfB Stuttgart while Pascal Groß, Waldemar Anton, Yan Couto and Maximilian Beier were also drafted in.

© IMAGO/Dennis Ewert/RHR-FOTO

All change

There have been plenty of ins and outs since Dortmund's final appearance last season. Coach Edin Terzić has been replaced by Nuri Şahin while Marco Reus, Mats Hummels, Ian Maatsen, Jadon Sancho, Niclas Füllkrug, Sébastien Haller and Youssoufa Moukoko - who all appeared against Madrid - are now elsewhere.

© IMAGO/Mario Hommes/DeFodi Images

So close, and yet ...

BVB's magnificent run all the way to the Wembley showpiece last term helped to open up a fifth spot in the Champions League for German clubs this season. Die Schwarzgelben were competing in their third European Cup final but couldn't overcome record winners Real Madrid, who prevailed 2-0.

© IMAGO/Ulrich Hufnagel

Here they go again!

Last season's UEFA Champions League finalists get their latest attempt at lifting European football's greatest prize in Belgium on the opening match day of a newly formatted competition.

© IMAGO/Bahho Kara/Kirchner-Media

Welcome!

Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of Borussia Dortmund's opening UEFA Champions League game of the 2024/25 league phase away at Club Brugge of Belgium.

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