Schlotterbeck Fires Title Warning: 'We're Underestimated, but We'll Push Bayern All the Way'

Nico Schlotterbeck said after the draw with Bayern Munich that he believes Borussia Dortmund can stay in the Bundesliga title race until the very end, insisting his side are still "underestimated".

In the season's first Der Klassiker at the Allianz Arena, Dortmund came away with a point thanks to a late Fábio Silva goal that secured a 2-2 draw.

Dortmund had a Jobe Bellingham goal ruled out at 0-0 and twice fell behind as Konrad Laimer and Dayot Upamecano found the net for Bayern. But Serhou Guirassy's third goal of the season drew them level, and Silva's opportunistic finish in the 89th minute levelled the score again, preserving the black and yellows' unbeaten league record.

Dortmund sit behind Bayern only on goal difference, with both sides level on 18 points at the top. Over the last seven seasons, the black and yellows have made a better league start only once, in the first eight matchdays of the 2023-24 season (20 points).

The impressive centre-back Schlotterbeck responded to the critics who have already written his side out of the race:

"I think we don't get the credit we deserve in Germany and we're underestimated, because people keep saying we're not playing our best football. But we're a good team and we know it. If we keep playing like this, I'm sure we can stay in the race for a very long time."

"There are still more than 25 matchdays to go. We're in a good position and level on points with Bayern. All we have to do is keep going and keep the title race open. We're a quality side and we can achieve something. Bayern are the favourites and we're the chasers. But if we can reproduce the performance from this game, or from certain parts of the season, in the coming weeks as well, we'll be in a very good place."

Silva's goal was his third in seven Bundesliga appearances this season, meaning the Portuguese forward has already surpassed the tally he reached in 28 matches last season. Silva stands out for having scored against Bayern more than against any other league opponent (twice), while Dortmund have now avoided defeat in three of their last four league visits to the Allianz Arena (1W, 2D, 1L).

Dortmund face Real Betis in the Champions League in midweek before hosting Elversberg in the Bundesliga at Signal Iduna Park at the weekend.