After last week's emphatic 4:1 win over RB Leipzig, pundits and commentators all over Germany were lauding Borussia Dortmund. After six years of dominance by FC Bayern München, the Black-Yellows were seen as the team to challenge the Bavarians for the Bundesliga title.

Yesterday's stodgy 0:0 draw at Hannover 96 would suggest otherwise.

Last season, Borussia Dortmund had got off to a flying start. They then fell away badly, leading to the dismissal of much-heralded Dutch coach Peter Bosz before Christmas. By the end of the season however, they had done enough to finish in fourth place under Lucien Favre - just about enough to sneak into this season's Champions League group stage.

Over the summer, Dortmund have set about building. They have splashed the cash, and it seemed like it was starting to pay off against Leipzig. Having conceded in the first minute, Favre's men completely overpowered the Red Bulls, who themselves have been tipped for a top four finish.

Against Hannover 96 at the HDI-Arena, Dortmund were widely expected to pick up all three points. In my Bundesliga pre-match preview, I suggested that it would be a tough match, but that Dortmund would have enough quality to edge it.

I was wrong.

Dortmund would indeed have their chances, but the team from Lower Saxony showed that they will be a tough team to beat this season. André Breitenreiter's side were well drilled and organised at the back, but were not without threat at the other end of the pitch either.

On another day, Dortmund might have snatched the points. Captain Marco Reus was unlucky to hit the crossbar with an audacious effort three minutes before half-time, and in the second half Maximilian Philipp's crisp header from a Marius Wolf cross crashed against the upright.

In the end, though, it could have been worse for Ruhr outfit. Hannover skipper Waldemar Anton would get a good sight of goal with twelve minutes left, but sent his volley narrowly wide.

Dortmund would just about edge it on shots on goal, but it was the home side that bossed the passing and possession stats. There was little of the pace, energy and desire that had defined BVB's first-week win over Leipzig, and one has to wonder whether they can really step up and do enough to challenge Bayern.

After all, these are the sorts of matches any genuine title challenger will have to win as the season develops. The home side were more than good value for their point, but Favre and co will be seeing this as two valuable points dropped.

Interestingly, this was the 53rd meeting between these two teams, and the first time that they had both drawn a blank.