Borussia Dortmund's 1-0 Champions League defeat at Bodø/Glimt did more than cost them three points — it extended an unwanted record of four away defeats in succession in the competition.

The trend was already visible before kick-off. Ahead of Matchday 2, Dortmund had lost their previous three away Champions League games. On 14 October 2026 — the day before the Bodø trip — head coach Niko Kovač had warned his side against underestimating the Norwegian champions, saying Dortmund were chasing a European double after opening the 2026-27 campaign with a 3-2 win over Villarreal. The defeat at the Aspmyra Stadion made it four straight losses on the road in Europe.

A contrast with domestic form

The away record stands in stark contrast to Dortmund's Bundesliga output under Kovač. When he extended his contract until 2029, reported on 14 October 2026, Kovač had won 35 of his 53 Bundesliga matches in charge of BVB, with a higher points-per-game average than any other coach in the club's history and the team restored as Bayern Munich's main rivals for the title.

That record made the decision to heavily rotate his squad in Bodø all the more striking. Kovač named a much-changed lineup, and only after Fredrik Sjøvold had put the hosts ahead did he turn to Julian Ryerson, Felix Nmecha, Ethan Nwaneri and Serhou Guirassy. Late chances for Nmecha and Nwaneri came and went, with Bodø/Glimt goalkeeper Nikita Haikin repeatedly on hand to preserve the clean sheet.

Familiar script for Bundesliga visitors

Dortmund were the second Bundesliga side to encounter difficulties in Norway in as many days, a reminder of how uncomfortable the trip to Aspmyra Stadion has become for German clubs. Kovač had already flagged the danger in his pre-match comments, with reports at the time noting Nico Schlotterbeck's absence through injury while confirming Julian Ryerson and Carney Chukwuemeka were available.

The defeat leaves Dortmund with ground to make up in the league phase and a clear priority: translating their domestic consistency into results away from home in Europe.