Champions League Matchday 1: Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal facts

Borussia Dortmund will look for a repeat of last season's emphatic win against Villarreal as the teams meet again in Germany to kick off their 2026/27 UEFA Champions League campaigns.

Previous meetings

The only previous encounter between the sides was Dortmund's 4-0 home victory on Matchday 5 of the 2025/26 Champions League, Serhou Guirassy scoring twice and Daniel Svensson getting the final goal.

That was Dortmund's third successive win against a Liga club – with 11 goals scored and only two conceded – as many as in their previous 13 fixtures (D3 L7). They had beaten Athletic Club 4-1 in Germany on Matchday 2.

BVB have lost only two of their last 15 home games against Spanish teams (W9 D4) and have won the last three.

Villarreal concluded last season's Champions League campaign with a 3-0 loss at Bayer Leverkusen on Matchday 8; they have won only two of their last ten matches against German opponents (D4 L4).

The Spanish side won two of their first three games in Germany (L1) but are without a victory in their subsequent six (D3 L3).

Form guide

Borussia Dortmund

This is Dortmund’s 11th successive appearance in the Champions League group stage/league phase.

In 2025/26, BVB were 17th in the league phase (W3 D2 L3), losing 3-4 on aggregate to Atalanta in the knockout phase play-offs (2-0 h, 1-4 a).

Dortmund have won their Matchday 1 fixture in three of the last five seasons (D1 L1); they drew 4-4 at Juventus last season and have lost their opener in only two of their last eight campaigns (W4 D2).

Villarreal

Villarreal are in the Champions League for the sixth time; last season was their first appearance since 2021/22, when they equalled their best run by reaching the semi-finals. This is the first time they have qualified in successive seasons.

The Spanish side finished 35th in last season's league phase (D1 L7).

The Yellow Submarine have never won on Champions League Matchday 1 (D3 L2), losing 0-1 at Tottenham last season.

Links and trivia

Dortmund scored four goals in each of their first three league phase matches last season.

BVB's 16 league phase games over the last two seasons have produced 70 goals – an average of 4.38 per game.

Dortmund have lost only two of their last 22 home Champions League matches (W13 D7).

Villarreal are without a win in their last 11 matches in the Champions League proper (D2 L9), losing their final six matches in last season's league phase.

The Spanish side have lost their last five away European games, failing to score in each of them and conceding 13 goals.