Dortmund back on top after key win at Stuttgart

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Freiburg, the only other team with a perfect record heading into matchday four, drew 2-2 with Eintracht Frankfurt earlier in the day, leaving Dortmund out on its own on 12 points after Bayern Munich's thumping 7-0 win over Union Berlin on Saturday (AEST).

Beier headed a glorious early chance well wide for Dortmund early on before Maximilian Mittelstadt sent a volley over Gregor Kobel's crossbar at the other end moments later.

There were just two shots on target in the first half, both of which fell to Stuttgart. Ermedin Demirovic shot straight at Kobel after the hosts won back possession high up the pitch before Deniz Undav saw his poked attempt repelled by the Dortmund goalkeeper.

Ethan Nwaneri thought he had given Dortmund the lead seven minutes after the restart, but after finishing into the bottom-right corner, the offside flag on the far side was raised. 

Niko Kovac decided to throw Konstantinos Karetsas and Jobe Bellingham into the action in the 62nd minute, and the latter made an instant impact, with his teasing cross into the penalty area swept home by Beier.

Bellingham then won back possession deep in his own half and went on a lung-busting run before laying off to Karetsas, but his shot just evaded Fabian Bredlow's near post.

Stuttgart did, however, improve after going behind, with Kobel called into action twice in quick succession to deny Josha Vagnoman and Bilal El Khannouss, but Sebastian Hoeness' side was unable to find an equaliser.