Borussia Dortmund are back on top of the Bundesliga after a fourth win from four games to start the season. A disciplined 1-0 victory at VfB Stuttgart on Saturday night sent Niko Kovac's side to the summit with 12 points, two clear of Bayern Munich.

Maximilian Beier scored the only goal in the 70th minute, assisted by Jobe Bellingham. It was Dortmund's first shot on target in the match. The narrow but controlled away performance showed a newfound maturity, pushing memories of the painful title collapse in May 2023 firmly into the past.

Kovac instils new resilience

Under Kovac, who lost his first game in charge at Stuttgart two years ago, the team appears far more robust. Back then, Nuri Sahin was in the dugout and Stuttgart won both league meetings in the 2024-25 season. Last term, Dortmund took four points from the two fixtures. This flawless start, with nine goals scored and just two conceded, is their best in years.

The big-money signings Beier and Bellingham combined for the decisive moment at the Mercedes-Benz Arena. "It’s about annoying Bayern a bit," said managing director Lars Ricken afterwards. The 16-point gap to the champions at the end of last season is a gap they intend to close significantly this time.

The next test awaits

The perfect run of five wins in all competitions, including a 3-0 victory over SC Paderborn last time out, provides momentum for the challenges ahead. After the international break, the league leaders host Werder Bremen, currently in eighth place, on October 9th.

Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeness was left frustrated. "In a top match, decent and okay aren’t enough," he said. For Dortmund, it was a perfect night that finally laid to rest the painful memory of the 'Deutscher Meister' t-shirts that went on sale outside Signal Iduna Park in May 2023. The team returns home having taken nine points from their first three away games, further proof of improved resilience on the road.

The win in Stuttgart made it five victories in a row this young season. Niko Kovac has evidently instilled a new defensive solidity in his players that makes the difference in tight games. With only Giannis Konstantelias currently sidelined, the squad is in strong health. The next opportunity to extend their lead at the top comes in two weeks' time at the Signal Iduna Park.

Read the full report at The Guardian Football

VfB Stuttgart, last season's fourth-placed team, dropped to 14th place in the table after the defeat to Borussia Dortmund, the club stated. Stuttgart has only three points after four matchdays. BVB leads the table with twelve points and four wins from four games.