Signal Iduna Park got its Champions League roar back with a wild second half. After a quiet 0-0 at half-time, Borussia Dortmund beat Villarreal 3-2, but had to sweat to the very end. An own goal from Renato Veiga put BVB ahead on 53 minutes before Santiago Mouriño’s header from a corner made it 1-1. Serhou Guirassy then took over, scoring from open play in the 80th minute and from the spot on 85 to make it 3-1. A late twist still arrived when Guirassy had a deflection go in as an own goal in the 90th minute, trimming the margin to one. Villarreal kept pushing through five minutes of added time, yet Dortmund held firm. With 77,500 in attendance and the South Stand in full voice, the hosts banked an opening-night win in Europe. On Sofascore, the match produced a chunky set of numbers that explain why it tilted yellow.

Second-half surge and key moments

The first 45 minutes were tactical and tidy, with both keepers largely untroubled and each side spurning two big chances. The restart changed everything in a 12‑minute burst. Dortmund finally broke the deadlock when Veiga turned a low ball into his own net at 53 minutes, a scruffy but deserved opener for the hosts. Villarreal answered with a set-piece sting, as Mikautadze’s delivery found Mouriño for a thumping header on 66 minutes. The game then tilted toward Dortmund’s front line. Fabio Silva injected pace and ideas, and Guirassy steered home a left‑foot finish on 80 minutes after a neat move down the right. Five minutes later the forward won the duel that mattered most, converting a penalty low to the keeper’s left for 3-1. There was still time for nerves when a stoppage‑time scramble ended with the ball bouncing in off Guirassy for 3-2. Simone Sozza added five more minutes, but BVB closed it out with clearances and a couple of important interventions.

Why the numbers favored Dortmund

The home side created the better chances over 90 minutes, finishing with an xG of 2.83 to Villarreal’s 1.34 on Sofascore. That edge came from territory and pressure: Dortmund logged 55 final-third entries to 45 and completed 143 of 172 actions in that phase for an 83 percent success rate. They also attacked the box more consistently, recording 28 touches inside the penalty area to Villarreal’s 14. Total shots finished 18-13 to BVB, and while shots on target were level at 6-6, the hosts posted the higher expected goals on target at 2.74 to 1.54. Corners also leaned their way 9-7, a sign of repeat pressure. Long balls were a quiet factor, with Dortmund hitting 23 of 34 for 68 percent accuracy against Villarreal’s 25 of 50 at 50 percent. They circulated well, completing 461 accurate passes to 413, which helped them reset attacks after breakups. They even struck the woodwork once, underlining how close the margin could have been even earlier. Six big chances created and two big chances scored tell the attacking story that turned into three points.

What kept Villarreal in the fight

Villarreal competed ferociously in direct duels, winning 59 percent overall and dominating in the air at 70 percent. That physical edge translated to volume on defense, where they made 27 tackles to Dortmund’s 19. Their crossing was more efficient, finishing 4 of 9 for 44 percent, compared with Dortmund’s 3 of 16 at 19 percent. From open play they found useful width, especially before Tajon Buchanan’s withdrawal, which maintained an outlet even as Dortmund’s pressure grew. They matched Dortmund with 6 shots on target and forced five saves from Gregor Kobel across the night. Three “big saves” were credited to Péter Gulácsi, and his 7.4 Sofascore Rating reflected a busy display behind a stretched back line. Set pieces stayed dangerous too, producing the Mouriño equalizer after the hour. Still, one error leading to a shot and three offsides cut into promising moments. The late 90th‑minute deflection that went in off Guirassy offered hope, but the clock beat them.

MVP: Serhou Guirassy’s decisive night

Guirassy was relentless and efficient, finishing with a Sofascore Rating of 8.6, the best on the pitch. He scored twice, including a confident 85th‑minute penalty and a composed left‑foot finish on 80 minutes that restored Dortmund’s lead. His threat was constant with six total shots and three on target, backed by a hefty 2.14 xG and 2.41 xGOT. He also contributed two key passes and drew three fouls, winning a penalty in the process to tilt the game state. In the air he was a force, winning four aerial duels and seven overall, which helped BVB bypass pressure when needed. He completed 13 of 16 passes and found ways to link with Fabio Silva, who came on and immediately offered pace and service. Even the late own goal could not blur how central his work was to the outcome. This was a classic center-forward performance that matched Dortmund’s need for punch after a scoreless first half. Sofascore users saw that impact play out in the live momentum swings. When the match required a finisher, Guirassy delivered.

Villarreal standouts and Dortmund’s supporting cast

Buchanan was Villarreal’s most dangerous runner before being subbed on 75 minutes, posting a 7.7 Sofascore Rating with three chances created, three shots on target and 0.62 xA. Mikautadze supplied the corner assist and threatened between the lines, finishing with three key passes and steady distribution. At the back, Mouriño’s goal capped an active night that included 10 recoveries and four tackles, although he also conceded the penalty in the decisive phase. Gulácsi’s handling and positioning kept the visitors alive at 2-1 and again late on. For Dortmund, Fabio Silva’s cameo mattered, bringing an assist, one big chance created and three shots on target in just 15 minutes. Gregor Kobel added five saves and two “big saves,” with a 7.6 Sofascore Rating that underlined steady work during a frantic finale. Joey Veerman’s 99 touches and 82 accurate passes kept BVB ticking through pressure. Those contributions formed the platform for Guirassy’s match-winning minutes.

Lineups, changes and discipline

Dortmund lined up 3-4-2-1, Villarreal went 4-2-3-1, and both managers leaned on their benches as the tempo rose. An early injury forced Dortmund to replace Konstantinos Karetsas with Ethan Nwaneri on 27 minutes. The turning point from the bench came on 75 minutes when Fabio Silva and Jobe Bellingham entered, adding direct running and quick combinations. Villarreal adjusted at half-time, swapping Sergi Cardona for Alexander Freeman, then introduced Nicolas Pépé and Alberto Moleiro on 59 minutes to freshen the right side. Later changes brought Gerard Moreno into the front line for a late push. Discipline stayed manageable, with Dortmund’s Waldemar Anton booked at 38 minutes and Villarreal cautions for Pau Navarro and Sergi Cardona in the first half, plus Mouriño at 83 minutes. Referee Simone Sozza allowed the game to breathe while keeping control as challenges flew in. The split tells the story: Dortmund owned the box and chance quality, Villarreal owned many of the duels. On balance, that blend produced a home win, one clinical striker, and a very loud night in Dortmund.

Player of the Match

By Sofascore Rating, the top performer was Serhou Guirassy with an 8.6. Fans agreed, voting Guirassy as their pick with 3616 of 5002 total votes. When both align, the verdict is pretty clear.