ShareBorussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck feels it is time for people outside the club to take them seriously as title contenders.Nico Schlotterbeck is convinced Borussia Dortmund have what it takes to be in the Bundesliga title race, saying Niko Kovac's team are still "underrated" following their draw with Bayern Munich.Dortmund escaped the first Klassiker of the season – on the road at the Allianz Arena – with a point on Saturday, as Fabio Silva struck late on in a 2-2 draw.BVB, who saw a Jobe Bellingham goal disallowed at 0-0, fell behind on two occasions with Konrad Laimer and Dayot Upamecano on target for Bayern.But Serhou Guirassy's third goal of the campaign wiped out their first deficit, before Silva's opportunistic finish across goal in the 89th minute kept them unbeaten in the Bundesliga this term.Dortmund remain behind Bayern on goal difference at the top of the table, with both teams having 18 points apiece. Across the last seven seasons, they have only once made better start, amassing 20 points from eight games at the start of 2023-24.And centre-back Schlotterbeck has warned their critics against ruling them out of the title race at this early stage. "I think we're underrated in Germany, because people keep saying we don't play the best football. But we are good, and we know it," he said, as quoted by Kicker. "If we keep playing like this, I'm confident that we can keep things open for a very long time. "The issue is there are still more than 25 matchdays to go. We're in a good position and level on points with Bayern. "You simply have to keep going and keep the title race open. We have a good team and can achieve something. "Bayern are the favourites, and we're the challengers. However, if we perform over the coming weeks as we did – or as we have done in certain halves of this season – then we're in a good place."Silva's goal was his third in seven Bundesliga appearances this season, already one more than he managed in 28 outings last term.He has scored more goals against Bayern (two) than against any other opponent in the Bundesliga, while Dortmund have now avoided defeat in three of the last four league Klassikers at the Allianz Arena (W1 D2 L1 – going down 2-1 last season).Kovac's side are in Champions League action on Wednesday, against Real Betis, before surprise package Elversberg visit Signal Iduna Park in the Bundesliga next weekend.Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck feels it is time for people outside the club to take them seriously as title contenders.Nico Schlotterbeck is convinced Borussia Dortmund have what it takes to be in the Bundesliga title race, saying Niko Kovac's team are still "underrated" following their draw with Bayern Munich.Dortmund escaped the first Klassiker of the season – on the road at the Allianz Arena – with a point on Saturday, as Fabio Silva struck late on in a 2-2 draw.BVB, who saw a Jobe Bellingham goal disallowed at 0-0, fell behind on two occasions with Konrad Laimer and Dayot Upamecano on target for Bayern.But Serhou Guirassy's third goal of the campaign wiped out their first deficit, before Silva's opportunistic finish across goal in the 89th minute kept them unbeaten in the Bundesliga this term.Dortmund remain behind Bayern on goal difference at the top of the table, with both teams having 18 points apiece. Across the last seven seasons, they have only once made better start, amassing 20 points from eight games at the start of 2023-24.And centre-back Schlotterbeck has warned their critics against ruling them out of the title race at this early stage. "I think we're underrated in Germany, because people keep saying we don't play the best football. But we are good, and we know it," he said, as quoted by Kicker. "If we keep playing like this, I'm confident that we can keep things open for a very long time. "The issue is there are still more than 25 matchdays to go. We're in a good position and level on points with Bayern. "You simply have to keep going and keep the title race open. We have a good team and can achieve something. "Bayern are the favourites, and we're the challengers. However, if we perform over the coming weeks as we did – or as we have done in certain halves of this season – then we're in a good place."Silva's goal was his third in seven Bundesliga appearances this season, already one more than he managed in 28 outings last term.He has scored more goals against Bayern (two) than against any other opponent in the Bundesliga, while Dortmund have now avoided defeat in three of the last four league Klassikers at the Allianz Arena (W1 D2 L1 – going down 2-1 last season).Kovac's side are in Champions League action on Wednesday, against Real Betis, before surprise package Elversberg visit Signal Iduna Park in the Bundesliga next weekend.