The defeat means Dortmund are 13th and must get a result against Shakhtar Donetsk in their final league phase game to have the chance to qualify automatically for the knockouts. For the first time in the competition, the German side have lost multiple games after scoring the opening goal.

Bologna had never won a game in the Champions League before. Borussia Dortmund’s 2-1 loss to the Italian team on Tuesday could be the last for coach Nuri Sahin who has now overseen four straight defeats this year.

After Friday's 2-0 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt - Dortmund's third in a row - managing director for sport Lars Ricken put Sahin under pressure to win Tuesday's Champions League game. And now that the game ended in defeat instead, Ricken has left it open whether Sahin will keep his job.

Borussia Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin failed to receive the full backing of managing director Lars Ricken on Tuesday after the 2-1 Champions League defeat at Bologna. The Germans took the lead in Italy but ended up with a fourth straight defeat in all competitions.