Berlin — Jamie Bynoe-Gittens inspired Borussia Dortmund to a strong start in the new Bundesliga season with a 2-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday. The young forward netted both goals, securing three points for his team in their opening match.
The game also drew attention for protests from Dortmund fans, who expressed their displeasure with the club’s recent sponsorship deal with a German arms manufacturer.
Frankfurt had a golden opportunity to level the match in the 71st minute when Fares Chaibi found himself in a prime position to convert Niels Nkounkou’s powerful cross. However, Chaibi failed to connect, and the ball sailed wide of the target.
Just a minute later, Gittens created a more challenging chance at the other end. He skillfully evaded a defender on the left side of the box and fired a shot from a tight angle that hit the crossbar before finding the back of the net.
“Bang, far corner,” Gittens said after the match. “I’ve done that plenty of times in training.”
Dortmund head coach Nuri Sahin praised the importance of the win, especially after their 4-1 victory over Phoenix Lübeck in the German Cup last week. “A win like this pushes the momentum forward. It’s great,” Sahin said, rewarding his players with two days off for their efforts.
Stuttgart Stumbles in Opener
Last season’s Bundesliga runners-up, Stuttgart, had a disappointing start to the new campaign, suffering a 3-1 defeat to Freiburg. Despite taking the lead in the second minute through Ermedin Demirović’s scissor-kick goal, Stuttgart couldn’t capitalize further, falling to their opponents’ comeback.
This marked Freiburg’s first league match under new head coach Julian Schuster, following long-time manager Christian Streich’s retirement, and they celebrated the occasion with a convincing three-goal performance.
In other Bundesliga action, Leipzig overcame a late red card for captain Willi Orban to secure a 1-0 win over Bochum, thanks to 19-year-old Antonio Nusa’s debut goal in the second half.
Elsewhere, newly-promoted Holstein Kiel suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat to Hoffenheim, Augsburg played to a 2-2 draw against Werder Bremen, and Mainz drew 1-1 with Union Berlin in a match that saw Union’s new coach Bo Svensson face his former club.
The Bundesliga season is off to an exciting start, with early surprises and strong performances setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling campaign.
