This weekend Dortmund heads to Stuttgart with a record that backs up its standing against the side. Across Bundesliga history, the two sides have faced off 112 times, and the numbers show a closely matched rivalry, with goals traded freely on both sides. Dortmund holds 42 victory from those meetings, Stuttgart takes 44, while the remaining 26 ended level. The goal difference is small: 193 for Dortmund, 188 for Stuttgart. Yet when it comes to scoring, these fixtures rank among the most open in league history, with 381 goals shared between the two clubs.
Every meeting over the last 25 competitive matches has produced at least one goal, which makes the current run even more remarkable. Dortmund’s last win arrived in April 2026, with a score of 2–0.
Kovac on the Opposition
The Dortmund head coach knows precisely what he is getting into. Before the match, Niko Kovac spoke about Stuttgart’s strengths and warned his own team about the challenge ahead.
“They’re a very well-balanced team that can do a lot with the ball and has many talented individual players,” Kovac said. “Three points might not sound like much right now, but they faced Bayern and Hoffenheim in their first three games. Those are no easy opponents.”
He also pointed to Stuttgart’s home advantage as a major concern. “With the atmosphere there, it will be very difficult for any opponent—including us this weekend.”
“With the atmosphere there, it will be very difficult for any opponent—including us this weekend.”
Kovac’s assessment of the opposition is measured. He sees a team capable of playing football, with individuals who can hurt Dortmund. But he also acknowledges the quality of Stuttgart’s early fixtures, noting that facing Bayern and Hoffenheim in the first three games is a demanding start.
Dortmund’s Record Start
BVB has begun the campaign with a strong run of form. They have won all three of their matches so far, collecting nine points in the process. That level of success through the opening fixtures has not been seen since eleven years ago, when Dortmund also posted a similar record after three matchdays. Their most impressive starts to a Bundesliga season took place during the 2010s.
Niko Kovac’s team has now won its last five official matches across all competitions. The run shows genuine strength, and the early-season push continues to gain force.
Dortmund’s away record against Stuttgart stands out. No other club in its Bundesliga history has been beaten by Dortmund so frequently on its own ground, with 17 victories in total. From 2010 onwards, the numbers read ten away wins, two draws, and three defeats. Dortmund managed to fail to find the net in just one of its last 20 Bundesliga away matches at VfB, a 0–2 loss in December 2023.
Kobel’s Clean Sheet Run
Dortmund’s backline now counts Gregor Kobel among its most important players, and he arrived there after a quick rise through German football. He was promoted to the Bundesliga with VfB Stuttgart in 2020, before moving to Dortmund just a year later.
Over the weekend, during the 3–0 victory against SC Paderborn, he went the full ninety without conceding a goal, doing so for the second time this campaign and for the 72nd occasion in total across competitive fixtures for BVB. Since BVB returned to the top division in 1976, just three BVB goalkeepers have registered more shutouts. Kobel stands on track to pass one of them this term.
His form at VfB’s ground has been consistent.
New Jersey, Same Colors
Dortmund will put on their new black away jerseys for the first time this Bundesliga season during this trip. VfB, by contrast, usually wears white jerseys with a red chest stripe at home.
Dortmund’s kit history now includes a first: the black away jersey has made its league debut this season, and the jerseys themselves serve as a small but significant detail marking that milestone.
Referees and Officials
The match will be overseen by Tobias Stieler as the referee, with Lasse Koslowski and Sascha Thielert serving as his assistants. Wolfgang Haslberger has been appointed as the fourth official, while Günter Perl fills the role of video assistant.
As is customary, the officials will be under close observation throughout the contest. Dortmund, however, will keep its attention fixed squarely on the field.
Weather Forecast
Stuttgart will see a mostly sunny and dry day on Saturday, with temperatures settling around 23 °C. The forecast points to pleasant late-summer conditions for anyone heading to the stadium.
The weather has turned out perfectly for football. There is no rain, no wind, and the temperature stays within a pleasant range. This promises to be a comfortable day at the match.
How to Follow the Match
BVB will keep its fans updated across all digital channels on matchday. The live ticker runs in the BVB app’s “Holiday Mode”, available for download, from 9:09 a.m. until after the final whistle. It covers news, photos, posts, videos, and statistics.
Fans can stay current on all developments surrounding the match through X, Facebook, and Instagram. Internet Radio BVB offers coverage from a Black and Yellow point of view, with Tobias Reiff and Boris Rupert doing the reporting. The live stream starts 15 minutes prior to kickoff and is accessible to everyone on the homepage and within the BVB app for iPhone and Android users.
What to Watch For
- Stuttgart’s home form. Kovac warns that the atmosphere will make life difficult for any visitor, and Dortmund will need to handle the pressure.
- Kobel’s clean sheet streak. Can he extend his run against a dangerous attacking side?
- Dortmund’s away record. A win would continue the club’s best-ever away record at VfB.
Dortmund comes into this encounter full of assurance. A run of victories, a goalkeeper’s shutout, and a fresh shirt all combine to make this weekend truly important. The scoreline on Sunday will be the final word on which team takes home the win.
Dortmund has the opportunity to keep its streak of not losing to Stuttgart alive through this match.
Source material: “Countdown for Stuttgart: Facts, Jerseys, Weather,” Yahoo Sports.
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