Until then, the contest hung in the balance. The hosts fashioned several openings without finding a breakthrough until Fabio Silva's clever turn and pass inside the box teed up Felix Nmecha for the opener against a static SV Elversberg defence. The visitors attempted to respond, yet soon conceded a second. Even so, they pushed the home side all the way, halving the deficit to 2-1 before mounting a spirited late assault that forced Gregor Kobel into a vital stoppage-time save.

Controversy had already flared earlier in the match. Daniel Svensson conceded only a routine free-kick for a heavy challenge on the edge of the box, yet the incident sparked fierce debate. Catching Pinckert's right ankle with his studs raised, Svensson appeared devoid of malice, but the tackle proved reckless and severe. The impact resulted in a premature exit for the defender, who attempted to soldier on after medical treatment before finally being forced off in the 37th minute having picked up the knock in the 19th.

There was no apparent VAR review, much to the fury of Elversberg, who strongly felt the incident warranted further sanction. Referee Harm Osmers saw it differently in an encounter predictably controlled by B. Dortmund, who dominated possession and carved out the game's best chances across both halves.

Jobe Bellingham squandered an early sight of goal before Fabio Silva went close with a rasping long-range effort. The Portuguese forward then spurned a gilt-edged opportunity when completely unmarked following a spill from the visiting goalkeeper; Silva steered his effort wide when scoring seemed the simpler task. Elversberg offered a couple of tame warning shots, but the sides headed into the interval on level terms.

Nmecha took centre stage after the break, bagging a brace to clinch Dortmund's sixth win in nine matches this Bundesliga campaign. Elversberg refused to surrender quietly, however, and set up a nervy finish thanks to Fukeu's sensational overhead kick to make it 2-1.