BodøGlimt stun BVB as Stuttgart claim victory in Bratislava

In a double‑header on 14 October 2026, BodøGlimt delivered a surprise in the Champions League by beating Borussia Dortmund, while VfB Stuttgart secured a 3‑0 win against Slovan Bratislava in the same round, both results highlighted by key goals from Fredrik Sjøvold and Deniz Undav.

Glimt’s decisive strike

Fredrik Sjøvold opened the scoring in the 52nd minute, giving the Norwegian side a 1‑0 lead that proved decisive. The goal, recorded as Sjøvold’s first of the season, left Dortmund without a point after a 0‑1 (0‑0) defeat. His market value is listed at €10 million. Coach Niko Kovač, who had extended his contract to 2029 the day before, later expressed regret over his personnel choices, acknowledging the late timing of his substitutions.

Stuttgart’s dominant display

In Bratislava, Deniz Undav struck in the 29th minute for his first league goal of the season, followed by an own‑goal from Sandro Cruz and a late finish by Ermedin Demirovic, sealing a 3‑0 victory. Undav’s market value stands at €22 million. The win came on an artificial pitch under mild conditions – temperatures around nine degrees, no rain and no wind – which Kovač said favoured smaller players.

Kovač also rotated his side, bringing on Fábio Silva for Serhou Guirassy and Samuele Inacio for Nathan Nwaneri. Inacio returned to the starting line‑up for the first time since serving a red card six weeks earlier. The coach stressed the need to keep the ball low, a tactical point he reiterated during a post‑match interview with.

During the first half, BodøGlimt created two clear chances: Sondre Brunstad Fet’s effort after twenty minutes brushed past Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, and Ole Didrik Blomberg narrowly missed a header from Jens Petter Hauge. Dortmund struggled to match the Norwegians’ quick passing, leading to several defensive adjustments after the half‑time break.

Stuttgart’s travel schedule includes an upcoming away fixture against Sabah FK in Azerbaijan, involving a flight of roughly 11 300 kilometres. Kovač noted the strain of travel on his squad, explaining why he retained national defender Nico Schlotterbeck in the starting eleven to protect the 26‑year‑old from recent ankle issues.

Both matches underscored the unpredictable nature of the Champions League group stage, with BodøGlimt securing valuable points in the north and Stuttgart demonstrating their depth in the competition’s second leg.