The first Bundesliga match of 2026 delivered instant drama as Borussia Dortmund stretched their unbeaten league run to eight matches, with Carney Chukwuemeka striking in the 96th minute to salvage a thrilling 3-3 draw away to Eintracht Frankfurt.

Frankfurt had struggled against fellow top-eight sides before the winter break, losing four of their previous five such encounters, and their concerns were justified early on. Dortmund opened the scoring after 10 minutes when Julian Ryerson’s low cross from the right was met at the near post by Maximilian Beier.

The hosts responded positively, however, and began to test Gregor Kobel through efforts from Can Uzun and Ansgar Knauff. Their pressure paid off when Serhou Guirassy fouled Robin Koch in the box, allowing Uzun to convert the resulting penalty and score his first goal since September.

Dortmund soon regained momentum and came close to restoring their lead, forcing Kaua Santos into action. The Frankfurt goalkeeper scrambled to deny Julian Brandt from a corner and then reacted sharply to keep out Nico Schlotterbeck’s powerful header. Brandt later squandered a promising chance by firing over, ensuring the sides went into the break level.

Dortmund’s failure to lead at halftime proved ominous, given their vulnerability after the interval this season. Frankfurt pressed early in the second half, with Younes Ebnoutalib heading narrowly wide and Knauff forcing another smart save from Kobel.

The momentum swung again just before the hour mark. Marcel Sabitzer saw a shot blocked by Arthur Theate, before Waldemar Anton headed straight at Santos. Moments later, Theate’s poor clearance gifted possession to Felix Nmecha, whose long-range strike deflected off Hugo Larsson and nestled into the bottom corner.

That advantage lasted just three minutes. Frankfurt sliced through Dortmund’s defence with a simple Arnaud Kalimuendo through ball, allowing Ebnoutalib to race clear and finish calmly past Kobel to make it 2-2.

Late drama followed at both ends. Schlotterbeck headed a corner against the crossbar before Fabio Silva’s acrobatic follow-up drifted wide. Frankfurt then looked to have won it in stoppage time when Dortmund failed to clear their lines and former Dortmund midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud fired a first-time effort through a crowd and beyond Kobel.

Yet the visitors had one final twist to deliver. In the 96th minute, Marcel Sabitzer’s hopeful cross was brilliantly controlled by Chukwuemeka, who kept his composure to steer the ball past Santos and secure a pulsating 3-3 draw at Deutsche Bank Park.