Borussia Dortmund have made a perfect start to the 2024/25 Bundesliga season. Saturday's 1-0 away win at VfB Stuttgart was their fourth victory in four matches, securing a maximum 12 points from 12.

This flawless opening has only been achieved four times in the club's history, most recently in the 2015/16 season under coach Thomas Tuchel. Then as now, it has led to the top of the table. With 12 points from four games, Dortmund sit alone in first place after matchday four, holding a two-point lead over rivals Bayern Munich. Niko Kovač's side have scored nine goals and conceded just two. This gives the Black and Yellows the league's second-best attack and best defence.

Beier nets winner

The decisive goal in Stuttgart came in the 70th minute from Maximilian Beier, who converted an assist from Jobe Bellingham. Coach Niko Kovač was full of praise for his player after the final whistle. "Life writes the most wonderful stories," said Kovač. "Maxi isn’t part of the national team, but today he’s the one who’s scored the goal."

Kovač highlighted the forward's versatility and reliability. "Ultimately, that just goes to show that we’ve got a brilliant squad." The coach also expressed satisfaction with the defensive performance and the control of the game in the second half.

Historical parallels and outlook

The last perfect start in 2015/16 ultimately resulted in a runners-up finish behind Bayern. The memory of narrowly missing out on the title in May 2023, when Dortmund led going into the final day, remains fresh. The current form, however, provides cause for optimism. The team is on a flawless run of five wins in all competitions, most recently beating SC Paderborn 3-0 in the DFB-Pokal.

Following the upcoming international break, action resumes on October 9th with a home match against sixth-placed Werder Bremen. The last meeting in January ended in a 3-0 home win for BVB. Captain Emre Can expressed confidence after the match: "We are focused and working from game to game. The mood and this will within the team are very good at the moment." The current league leadership and detailed season statistics are available in our standings and stats sections.

Read the full report at bundesliga.com