Fortuna Düsseldorf claimed a comeback victory over Borussia Dortmund in a pre-season friendly on Saturday afternoon, giving the home crowd a memorable summer result. The 3. Liga side recovered after going behind and finished the match on top against the Black and Yellows.
For Dortmund, the game appeared to be part of a wider pre-season workload rather than a full-strength competitive outing. Niko Kovac used 23 players, underlining the focus on rotation, fitness and giving minutes to a large group during preparations.
Even so, the defeat will draw attention because of the level of the opposition and the way the match turned. Fortuna Düsseldorf will take plenty of confidence from producing a comeback against one of Germany's biggest clubs, especially in front of their own supporters.
Summer friendlies are often used to test combinations and build sharpness, and this match fit that pattern for Dortmund. Fortuna, meanwhile, leave the contest with momentum after turning a home pre-season fixture into an impressive win over Borussia Dortmund.
