Maximilian Beier was left out of Jurgen Klopp’s first Germany squad, yet the striker responded emphatically by scoring the decisive goal in Borussia Dortmund’s latest Bundesliga triumph.
Niko Kovac expressed his delight for Beier, who proved the matchwinner against Stuttgart just days after the national-team omission.
Beier found the net with the only goal of the contest as Dortmund defeated Stuttgart on Saturday. The result allowed BVB to maintain their perfect start to the Bundesliga campaign and ensured they will sit alone at the top of the table heading into the international break.
The forward now has three goal involvements in the league this season, comprising one goal and two assists. Only Serhou Guirassy, with four, has contributed more for Dortmund in that category.
Among German Bundesliga players in 2026, Beier ranks second in goal involvements. His total of 12, six goals and six assists, places him level with Philipp Tietz and behind only Deniz Undav, who has 17. Despite these impressive numbers, Beier failed to earn a place in Klopp’s 44-man Germany squad.
Kovac was particularly pleased with how the young striker reacted to the disappointment.
Speaking in a post-match conference, Kovac revealed that although Maxi Beier was not with the national team, he had scored.
Kovac added that he was thrilled for the player, stating that the goal ultimately demonstrated Dortmund possessed both a strong squad and an outstanding individual in Beier, who had rewarded himself through his performance.
Dortmund’s victory extended an impressive run of form. The club has opened a Bundesliga season with four consecutive wins for the first time in 11 years.
This marks only the fourth occasion in club history that they have achieved such a start, the previous instances occurring in 2001-02, 2013-14 and 2015-16.
In addition, Dortmund have now won six successive matches across all competitions, matching their longest winning streak under Kovac, which was previously recorded in April and May 2025.
The result underscores both the team’s early-season momentum and Beier’s ability to deliver when overlooked at international level.
