It wasn’t supposed to be this easy. Borussia Dortmund entered Matchday 5 of the UEFA Champions League Signal Iduna Park sitting in 14th place after four brutal games, having conceded 11 goals and looked anything but title contenders. But on a cold November night in Dortmund, with 81,365 fans roaring like a storm, they didn’t just win — they dismantled Villarreal with clinical precision, finishing 4-0 in a performance that redefined their campaign. The goals came from Serhou Guirassy (45'+2', 54'), Karim Adeyemi (58'), and Daniel Svensson (90'+5'), while Juan Foyth’s red card in the 52nd minute turned a tight contest into a rout. And yes — they missed two penalties. But it didn’t matter.
A First Half That Wasn’t Even a First Half
For 43 minutes, this felt like a replay of Dortmund’s earlier struggles. Villarreal, underwhelming but organized, sat deep, absorbed pressure, and looked like the team more likely to score. They had zero shots on target. Dortmund had two. The crowd grew restless. Then, in the second minute of stoppage time, a corner. A flick-on. And Serhou Guirassy, towering over two defenders, powered a header into the net. The stadium exploded. The official match report called it "out of nowhere." But it wasn’t luck. It was the first crack in a dam.The Red Card That Changed Everything
Seven minutes into the second half, Villarreal’s Juan Foyth stretched to block a cross, his arm outstretched — and the ball hit it. Hard. Directly on the goal line. The referee pointed to the spot. VAR reviewed it for nearly three minutes. The decision: professional handball. Red card. No debate. The Spanish side was down to ten, and suddenly, the game wasn’t just winnable — it was over. Guirassy stepped up for the penalty. Villarreal’s keeper, Luiz Junior, guessed right and saved it. But the rebound? Pure instinct. Guirassy pounced. 2-0. The goal wasn’t just about finishing — it was about momentum. And Dortmund had it now.Adeyemi, Svensson, and the Cruelty of Composure
By the 58th minute, Karim Adeyemi had turned into a one-man counterattack. A curling left-footed shot from the left flank, arcing over Luiz Junior’s outstretched hand, found the top corner. It was the kind of goal that makes defenders question their life choices. Villarreal’s players looked shell-shocked. Their 30 clearances? Meaningless. Their 3 saves? Desperate. Meanwhile, Dortmund’s defense — led by Mats Hummels and Niklas Süle — barely broke a sweat. They didn’t need to. The stats told the story: 67% possession, 13 shots, 3.62 xG. Villarreal? 10 shots. 0.79 xG. One big chance.
Missed Penalties? Who Cares?
The twist? Dortmund missed two spot-kicks. In the 82nd minute, substitute Fabio Silva sent his penalty clanging off the crossbar after Adeyemi was fouled by Cardona. Then, in the 88th, another chance came — but the referee waved play on after a foul on Julian Duranville. Fans groaned. But the result? Already decided. This wasn’t about penalties. It was about dominance. And Borussia Dortmund had it in spades.The Final Nail: Svensson’s Head
The game ended not with a flourish, but with a simple, brutal finish. In the fifth minute of stoppage time, Pascal Groß whipped in a cross from the right. Daniel Svensson, a 23-year-old Swedish defender who’d barely played this season, rose above everyone. A header. Clean. Hard. Into the net. 4-0. The crowd chanted his name. It was poetic. The team that struggled to score in October now had 17 goals in five games — the most in the competition. And they did it with grit, not glamour.
Why This Matters
This wasn’t just a win. It was a statement. Before this match, Borussia Dortmund had won just two of their first four Champions League games. They were 14th. They were under fire. Now? Fourth. Top scorers. And suddenly, they look like the team that can challenge for the knockout stage. For Villarreal, it’s worse than losing. It’s irrelevance. Zero points. 32nd place. Eight clubs still winless. And they’re one of them. Their manager, Quique Setién, has no answers. No goals. No hope.What’s Next?
Dortmund host Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga next weekend — a brutal test. But this win has changed the narrative. They’re not just surviving anymore. They’re threatening. Villarreal, meanwhile, face PSG in their next European outing. A loss there might seal their fate. And for Dortmund fans? They’re dreaming again. Not of a trophy — yet. But of a return to the top eight. And this? This was the night it all changed.Frequently Asked Questions
How did Borussia Dortmund turn their Champions League campaign around so quickly?
After winning just two of their first four group games and conceding 11 goals, Dortmund’s turnaround began with a tactical shift under Niko Kovac — prioritizing width, pressing higher, and unleashing Guirassy as a lone striker. The 4-0 win over Villarreal was their third consecutive victory in all competitions, with 17 goals scored in five Champions League matches — the most of any team. Their defense tightened, and their attack finally clicked.
Why was Juan Foyth’s red card so controversial in Spain but not in Germany?
Spanish media called it "harsh," citing Foyth’s attempt to block the ball. But in Germany, officials and analysts saw clear professional foul: deliberate handball on the goal line to prevent a goal-scoring opportunity. VAR confirmed it was a red card under Law 12. The difference? German referees are stricter on goal-line handballs — especially in high-stakes games. Foyth’s action was textbook red, even if it looked accidental.
What does this result mean for Dortmund’s chances of advancing to the knockout stage?
With 10 points from five games, Dortmund now sit fourth in the group, just one point behind leaders Bayern Munich and two behind Real Madrid. They’ve scored more goals than any other team in the competition (17), and their goal difference (+8) is the best among top-four teams. A win in their final two games — against PSG and Bayern — would guarantee top-two finish.
How rare is it for a team to miss two penalties and still win 4-0 in the Champions League?
It’s extremely rare. Since 2010, only five teams have missed two penalties in a single Champions League match and still won by a margin of four or more goals. The last was Manchester City against Shakhtar Donetsk in 2018. Dortmund’s ability to dominate despite the misses shows their depth — they didn’t rely on set pieces. They overwhelmed Villarreal with pressure, movement, and sheer volume.
Why did Villarreal perform so poorly despite having experienced players like Dani Parejo?
Villarreal’s midfield, led by veteran Dani Parejo, was completely isolated. Dortmund’s pressing forced them into long balls, which were easily intercepted. Parejo, 35, looked slow and out of sync. Their defense, missing injured captain Raúl Albiol, had no leadership. And without a striker who could hold up play, they had no outlet. It wasn’t just bad luck — it was a complete tactical collapse.
Is Serhou Guirassy now Dortmund’s most important player?
Absolutely. After scoring just six goals in his first 15 Bundesliga games, Guirassy has netted 11 in his last 10 across all competitions — including four in the Champions League. His physical presence, aerial dominance, and clinical finishing have transformed Dortmund’s attack. He’s now their top scorer in Europe this season and has become the focal point of Kovac’s system. Without him, this win wouldn’t have happened.
