The history of Union Berlin v Borussia Dortmund is relatively short compared with some of German football’s more established rivalries, but it has certainly produced plenty of drama. The two clubs first met in competitive football in the DFB-Pokal during the 2016/17 season, before becoming more regular opponents following Union Berlin’s promotion to the Bundesliga in 2019. Since then, the fixture has developed into an intriguing contest between Dortmund’s traditional attacking ambition and Union’s famously stubborn, hard-working approach.

There have been no shortage of goals, surprises and the occasional footballing hammer blow. In fact, one of the most remarkable features of the Union Berlin v Borussia Dortmund head-to-head record is the complete absence of draws in their Bundesliga meetings. Every league encounter has produced a winner, making this one fixture where supporters have rarely had to endure the dreaded 0-0 stalemate.

Union Berlin v Borussia Dortmund: The Early Meetings

The first competitive meetings came in the DFB-Pokal. Borussia Dortmund won the 2016 tie on penalties after a 1-1 draw, while the sides met again in the 2018/19 cup campaign, with Dortmund eventually winning 3-2 after extra time. So, even before Union became a Bundesliga regular, this fixture had already demonstrated its ability to keep supporters interested right until the final whistle.

The rivalry took on a new dimension in August 2019, when Union Berlin hosted Dortmund for their first Bundesliga meeting. Few expected the newly promoted side to produce such a memorable result, but Union stunned Dortmund with a 3-1 victory. It was Union’s first-ever Bundesliga win against Borussia Dortmund and immediately established the fixture as one capable of springing a surprise.

A Fixture Full of Surprises

Since that opening Bundesliga encounter, the results have swung back and forth, particularly at Union’s Stadion An der Alten Försterei. Union recorded another famous 2-1 home victory in December 2020, while Dortmund have also enjoyed several convincing wins. Dortmund’s 5-0 victory in February 2020 showed what can happen when their attack clicks, while later victories included 4-2, 3-0 and 2-0 successes.

Union have also demonstrated that home advantage can be extremely important in this fixture. Their victories over Dortmund have all come in Berlin, where the atmosphere at the Alte Försterei can make life particularly uncomfortable for visiting teams. Dortmund, meanwhile, have generally been dominant when hosting Union, creating a fascinating contrast between the two venues.

Recent Union Berlin v Borussia Dortmund Results

The more recent history has increasingly favoured Borussia Dortmund. In the 2024/25 season, Union did manage a 2-1 home win in October 2024, but Dortmund responded spectacularly in February 2025 with a 6-0 victory. That result was particularly significant because it represented Union Berlin’s biggest Bundesliga defeat. Football can be wonderfully dramatic like that: one match you are celebrating three points, and a few months later you are wishing the referee would check his watch rather more frequently.

Dortmund continued their strong recent record with a 3-0 victory at home in August 2025 and another 3-0 win at Union Berlin in January 2026. Those results underline how quickly the balance of this fixture can change, particularly when Dortmund find their attacking rhythm.

The Overall Head-to-Head Record

Looking at the overall Union Berlin v Borussia Dortmund head-to-head record, Dortmund hold the clear advantage. After the January 2026 meeting, the clubs had faced each other 18 times across competitive competitions according to Union Berlin’s own opponent archive, with Dortmund winning 14 and Union winning four. Crucially, there have been no draws in that overall record. All four of Union’s victories have come at home, while Dortmund have been particularly dominant at Signal Iduna Park.

That makes Union Berlin v Borussia Dortmund an increasingly interesting Bundesliga fixture to follow. The history may not stretch back for generations, but it already contains cup drama, surprise victories, emphatic scorelines and an unusually decisive head-to-head record. With neither side apparently interested in sharing the points, the next meeting should be another entertaining chapter in a rivalry that is still writing its history.