Borussia Dortmund Suffers Defeat at Tottenham, Jeopardizing Champions League Progression

Borussia Dortmund faced a significant setback in their 2026 Champions League group stage match, losing 0-2 to Tottenham Hotspur. The match, played in rainy London, saw Dortmund concede an early goal in the 14th minute when Cristian Romero scored after Dortmund failed to clear a corner. The situation worsened for Dortmund in the 24th minute when Daniel Svensson was sent off following a VAR review overturning an initial yellow card for a foul on Wilson Odobert. Playing with ten men for most of the match, Dortmund struggled offensively, failing to register a single shot on target in the first half. Tottenham extended their lead in the 37th minute through Dominic Solanke, further diminishing Dortmund's chances.

Despite some improvement in the second half after coach Niko Kovac made defensive substitutions, Dortmund could not capitalize on opportunities, with their best chance coming from a Ryerson free-kick. Dortmund legend Mats Hummels criticized the red card decision as unjust and called for a revision of the rules while also lamenting the team's first-half performance as a "total failure." Additionally, four Dortmund players were rated a grade 6, symbolizing a notably poor showing. With one group match remaining against Inter Milan, Dortmund now faces the possibility of needing to navigate playoffs to reach the Champions League last 16. Tottenham's victory may provide a lifeline for their manager Thomas Frank amid pressure following poor Premier League results.