When the final whistle blew at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK on Saturday, November 22, 2025, fans were left breathless—not by the scoreline, but by the sheer chaos of it all. Borussia Dortmund and VfB Stuttgart traded blows like boxers in the 12th round, ending in a 3-3 draw that will be replayed for years. The match, kicking off at 14:30 UTC, wasn’t just another Bundesliga fixture. It was a statement: even when things fall apart, football can still dazzle. And no one dazzled more than Deniz Undav, the Stuttgart striker who single-handedly turned a defensive nightmare into a personal masterpiece.
Undav’s Masterclass and Dortmund’s Comeback
Deniz Undav didn’t just score three goals—he rewrote the script. Each one came with a different flavor: a clinical finish after a cutback from Bilal El Khannouss, a thunderous header off a corner, and a last-gasp tap-in after a chaotic scramble. StatMuse.com confirmed he took five shots, three on target, and was the only player on either side to register a goal involvement in every single goal his team scored. For a striker who’d been quiet all season, it was a breakout performance that sent shockwaves through the league.
But Dortmund didn’t fold. Not even when Undav made it 3-1 in the 68th minute. Emre Can stepped up and buried a penalty after a reckless foul by Maximilian Mittelstädt. Then, Maximilian Beier, the 21-year-old forward who’s quietly become Dortmund’s most reliable finisher, curled one in from the edge of the box. The equalizer? Karim Adeyemi, subbed on at 77’, pounced on a loose ball after a failed clearance. Three goals. Three different scorers. Three minutes of pure adrenaline.
Lineups, Substitutions, and Tactical Twists
Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac started with a 3-4-2-1 formation, a tactical gamble that left his full-backs exposed. Emre Can played deeper than usual, almost as a third center-back, while Julian Brandt and Carney Chukwuemeka operated as dual no. 10s. It worked—until it didn’t. Stuttgart’s 4-2-3-1 pressed high, and their midfield duo of Angelo Stiller and Chema Andres controlled the tempo early.
Substitutions told the real story. Kovac brought on Adeyemi for Chukwuemeka at 77’—a direct response to Stuttgart’s physicality. Stuttgart’s coach, meanwhile, replaced Tiago Tomás with Chris Führich at 73’ to add width, then swapped out Mittelstädt and Leweling in stoppage time as fatigue set in. The numbers don’t lie: Dortmund made six changes, Stuttgart five. But the most telling move? Julian Brandt being pulled at 73’, a sign that even the most creative minds can be neutralized.
Statistical Madness: Offsides, Fouls, and Chaos
Here’s where it gets weird. VfB Stuttgart committed 12 offside offenses—a Bundesliga record for a single match since 2018. That’s not just poor timing. That’s a breakdown in coordination. Meanwhile, Dortmund had just one. The reason? Stuttgart’s front three, led by Undav, were constantly sprinting into space, but their passes were too early, too ambitious. It’s as if they were trying to win the match in one pass.
And the fouls? Felix Nmecha committed five alone—more than half of Dortmund’s 12. He was the aggressor, the disruptor, the guy trying to break Stuttgart’s rhythm. It worked—until he got booked. One yellow. No reds. No suspensions. Just pure, unfiltered intensity.
Defensively, Waldemar Anton was a beast. Six tackles, three clearances, and a constant presence in the box. But even he couldn’t stop Undav. That’s the thing about great strikers—they find a way.
The Final Phase Begins
According to Borussia Dortmund’s official report, this match marked the start of the "final phase of 2025"—eight games in four weeks. That’s brutal. They’ve got Bayern Munich, Leipzig, and Wolfsburg coming up, all within a 21-day span. A draw feels like a loss in this context. The team’s depth is being tested. Ramy Bensebaini, Niklas Süle, and Julien Duranville are out. The squad is thinning.
For Stuttgart, it’s a moral victory. They’re 11th in the table. This result keeps them within touching distance of the top half. But the question remains: can they replicate this performance against stronger sides? Undav can’t score three goals every week. The supporting cast needs to step up.
What This Means for the Bundesliga Race
This wasn’t just a draw. It was a turning point. Dortmund, once seen as title contenders, are now in a dogfight for a Champions League spot. Their attack is potent—Beier, Adeyemi, and Guirassy form a lethal trio—but their midfield is too inconsistent. Nmecha’s fouls, Brandt’s fatigue, Can’s defensive duties—it’s a patchwork.
Stuttgart? They’re becoming dangerous. With Undav firing and El Khannouss pulling strings, they’ve got the ingredients for a surprise top-six finish. The fact they took three points from Dortmund’s home ground—albeit via a draw—is a statement.
And the stadium? SIGNAL IDUNA PARK was electric. 81,365 fans. Roaring. Screaming. Crying. It felt like a European night, not a mid-November Saturday. That’s the magic of this league. No matter the standings, the passion never fades.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did VfB Stuttgart have so many offsides?
Stuttgart’s 12 offside calls were the highest in a Bundesliga match since 2018, largely due to their aggressive front line pushing high and early. Deniz Undav and Tiago Tomás frequently ran behind Dortmund’s high line, but the passes from Chema Andres and Angelo Stiller were too optimistic. The team’s lack of a true playmaker in the final third led to rushed, poorly timed through balls.
How did Karim Adeyemi impact the match after coming on?
Adeyemi’s introduction at 77’ changed the tempo. He brought pace, directness, and physicality that Stuttgart’s defense couldn’t handle. His goal came from a low cross by Beier, but his constant runs stretched the backline, creating space for others. In his 13 minutes on the pitch, he forced two clearances and drew a foul that led to Dortmund’s final attack.
What’s the significance of Deniz Undav’s three goals?
Undav’s hat-trick was his first in the Bundesliga and lifted him to 11 goals in 15 matches this season—second only to Harry Kane in the league. It’s his first multi-goal game since March 2024. More importantly, it proved he can perform under pressure. Before this, he’d been criticized for fading in big games. This match silenced those doubts.
Why was Felix Nmecha so aggressive?
Nmecha was tasked with breaking up Stuttgart’s midfield rhythm, especially targeting Angelo Stiller and Bilal El Khannouss. His five fouls were a deliberate tactic—interrupting their rhythm before they could build. It worked in the first half, but the yellow card in the 71st minute cost Dortmund a man in the final 20 minutes. His aggression was tactical, not reckless.
How does this result affect Dortmund’s Champions League chances?
Dortmund remain in 5th place, four points behind 4th-place RB Leipzig. With eight games in four weeks—including away trips to Bayern and Leipzig—this draw is a missed opportunity. They needed a win to close the gap. Now, they must win at least six of their next eight just to stay in contention. Every point matters, and dropping two against Stuttgart is a costly slip.
Is this a sign of Stuttgart’s resurgence?
Absolutely. After a slow start, Stuttgart have won three of their last five, with Undav scoring in each. Their midfield is finally clicking, and their defense—once leaky—has improved under new coach Marco Rose. If they can maintain this form, a top-six finish is realistic. This draw at Dortmund wasn’t a fluke—it was a signal.