Borussia Dortmund beat Werder Bremen 3-2 in the DFB-Pokal second round. Guirassy and Chukwuemeka scored before Füllkrug's brace, with Sabitzer delivering a dramatic late winner.

Competition: DFB-Pokal 2026/27 | Second Round | Date: 27 October 2026 | Venue: SIGNAL IDUNA PARK, Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund booked their place in the last 16 of the 2026/27 DFB-Pokal after a dramatic 3-2 victory over Werder Bremen at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK on Tuesday, October 27. Dortmund raced into a two-goal lead through Serhou Guirassy and Carney Chukwuemeka, only for Niclas Füllkrug to bring Bremen level with two second-half goals.

Just as the tie appeared to be heading towards extra time, Marcel Sabitzer produced a spectacular stoppage-time free-kick to settle the contest. The late strike completed a thrilling cup encounter and spared Dortmund after they had allowed a comfortable first-half advantage to disappear.

Official match report: Read the Borussia Dortmund match report for the club's full account of the game.

Watch Borussia Dortmund vs Werder Bremen Highlights

Watch the key moments from this DFB-Pokal thriller, including Dortmund's fast start, Füllkrug's dramatic equalising goals and Sabitzer's decisive free-kick in stoppage time.

Video: Borussia Dortmund vs SV Werder Bremen — DFB-Pokal second-round highlights.

First Half: Dortmund Build a Two-Goal Lead

6th Minute: Serhou Guirassy Opens the Scoring

Dortmund made an immediate impact by taking the lead in the sixth minute. Felix Nmecha drove forward from deep before releasing Maximilian Beier on the left. Beier sent a low ball into the penalty area, and Julian Ryerson's contribution across the face of goal helped Guirassy finish from close range.

The early goal rewarded Dortmund's direct attacking approach. Bremen attempted to press high, but the hosts found a way through the pressure and moved the ball quickly into dangerous areas.

14th Minute: Dortmund Have a Goal Ruled Out

Dortmund appeared to have extended their lead when Nico Schlotterbeck headed home from a Joey Veerman corner. However, the goal was disallowed for offside, preventing the hosts from moving further ahead at that stage.

17th Minute: Carney Chukwuemeka Doubles the Advantage

Dortmund scored their second goal in the 17th minute. Joey Veerman delivered a clever chipped ball into the penalty area, where Jobe Bellingham laid it off with a header. Carney Chukwuemeka arrived to strike first time from around 15 metres.

Bremen goalkeeper Hein managed to get a hand to the shot but could not keep it out. The goal made it 2-0 and placed Dortmund in a commanding position before the match had reached the 20-minute mark.

Second Half: Niclas Füllkrug Brings Bremen Back

65th Minute: Füllkrug Converts from the Penalty Spot

Werder Bremen returned from the break with greater purpose and gradually shifted the momentum. In the 65th minute, Julian Ryerson was penalised for a foul on Schmetgens inside the penalty area. Former Dortmund forward Niclas Füllkrug stepped up and converted the resulting penalty, reducing the deficit to 2-1.

68th Minute: Füllkrug Scores Again to Make It 2-2

Just three minutes later, Füllkrug struck again. He collected the ball around the centre of the pitch, drove forward and found enough space near the edge of the penalty area to release a low shot into the net. The equaliser stunned the home crowd and completed a remarkable comeback from Bremen.

71st Minute: Dortmund Make Changes

Dortmund responded by introducing Marcel Sabitzer, Daniel Svensson and Ethan Nwaneri. The substitutions brought fresh energy into the side as the hosts searched for a decisive goal before extra time.

90+3rd Minute: Marcel Sabitzer Wins It with a Stunning Free-Kick

With extra time approaching, Dortmund won a free-kick after Felix Nmecha was brought down to the left of centre. Sabitzer stepped up and delivered a superb direct effort from approximately 26 metres, curling the ball into the net to make it 3-2.

The goal secured Dortmund's place in the DFB-Pokal round of 16 and turned a potentially frustrating evening into a memorable cup victory.

Tactical Analysis: How Dortmund Survived Bremen's Comeback

1. Dortmund's Early Press Resistance

Bremen pressed aggressively in the opening stages, but Dortmund responded with confident passing and quick forward movement, allowing them to bypass the initial pressure.

2. Bremen Changed the Match Through Their Second-Half Intensity

Bremen took advantage of lapses in concentration and became more effective at attacking the space in front of the home defence. Füllkrug's quick double demonstrated the danger of allowing an opponent to regain confidence.

3. Sabitzer's Quality Decided a Tight Knockout Tie

As Bremen defended deeper, set pieces determined the cup match. Sabitzer's late free-kick provided the decisive difference.

Match Facts: Borussia Dortmund 3-2 Werder Bremen

What the Result Means

For Borussia Dortmund, the victory keeps their hopes of winning the German Cup alive. Progression came with a warning, however: a two-goal lead was not enough to prevent Bremen from taking control of the match during the second half.

Werder Bremen leave the competition despite a spirited comeback. Füllkrug's brace brought the visitors back from a difficult position and showed their ability to exploit Dortmund's defensive uncertainty.

Final Verdict

Borussia Dortmund's 3-2 win over Werder Bremen was a classic cup thriller. Guirassy and Chukwuemeka gave the hosts a two-goal first-half lead, but Füllkrug's penalty and equaliser brought Bremen level within three minutes. Just when extra time seemed close, Sabitzer produced a spectacular free-kick in the 90+3rd minute to send Dortmund through.

Sources

• Borussia Dortmund — Official Report
• Bundesliga.com — Official DFB-Pokal match centre
• SV Werder Bremen — Match report

Editorial note: This article is an independent match analysis based on published match reports and official match information. The embedded highlights video remains the property of its respective rights holder.