Maximilian Beier responds to Germany omission with Dortmund winner against Stuttgart

Maximilian Beier marked his omission from Germany’s latest squad by scoring the goal that preserved Borussia Dortmund’s perfect start to the Bundesliga season.

The striker struck 20 minutes from time as Dortmund secured a narrow victory over Stuttgart in a closely fought match. The result gave Niko Kovac’s side another important three points before the international break.

Beier was left out of Jurgen Klopp’s extended Germany squad, despite 44 players being selected for the national team’s next four matches. Kovac was pleased that the forward responded immediately on the pitch.

“Life writes the most beautiful stories,” Kovac said after the game. “Maxi Beier isn’t with the national team, but today he was the one who scored.

“I’m thrilled for him, and it ultimately shows that we have a great squad and a great player in Maxi, and that he has rewarded himself with this goal today. Now, he can take a few days off and work from home.”

The decisive move came from substitute Jobe Bellingham, whose well-timed cross found Beier in the right position. The Dortmund forward was then left with a straightforward finish.

“For a forward, nothing’s better than only having to say thank you,” Beier said.

Dortmund also held firm defensively to secure the clean sheet, which Beier described as a key part of the win.

“First and foremost, we had to keep a clean sheet here at Stuttgart. We did so emphatically throughout the 90 minutes,” he added.

The match lacked some of the intensity and drama seen in previous meetings between the teams, but Kovac was satisfied that his side had managed to claim the result.

“From both sides, it was an intense game that did not have quite as much as one knew from past encounters between Dortmund and Stuttgart,” he said.

“It is a statement win to do it here.”

Dortmund’s next Bundesliga fixture will be against SV Werder Bremen on Friday, 9 October. Kovac’s team will host the match at Signal Iduna Park.