Before the last game of the first half of the season, Bayern’s lead over second-placed Dortmund had increased to eleven points. The dominance of Munich is oppressive – BVB coach Niko Kovac also believes.
“Everyone can see that we can’t attack Bayern,” said Kovac before the home game against Werder Bremen on Tuesday evening (8.30 p.m., live in the ticker and in the Sportschau radio report). “This team has an extra class that cannot be seen in the Bundesliga at the moment,” said Kovac.
Kovac does not only attribute Bayern’s great dominance to the Bundesliga results such as the Kompany team’s overwhelming 8-1 win last Sunday: “Bayern are not only first in the Bundesliga, but also well ahead in the Champions League.”
The championship is no longer an issue for BVB this season. “We all have to accept that,” Kovac said matter-of-factly. “We want to get into the top four as quickly as possible, not just on the last matchday.” In second place, BVB has a good chance of doing so; Kovac attested to his team’s “good development” over the course of the season.
Dortmund’s problem after their own tours
However, the 54-year-old has identified a major problem with his team’s performance: the many points lost after taking the lead. “We won’t be able to add the second goal,” complained Kovac. Dortmund have already been unable to convert five leads into victories this season, most recently in a 3-3 draw in Frankfurt.
“We need a buffer of two goals difference,” said Kovac, to try again to compare with the front runner: “Bayern succeed in this. If you want to win these games, you have to add a second one or take home the narrow lead. That’s the small but noticeable difference at the moment.”
A difference that doesn’t seem to bring beads of sweat to Kovac’s forehead. The people of Dortmund have accepted Munich’s supremacy, at least for the time being. “We know where we come from and where Bayern are. We know where Bayern buy – and where we buy,” said Kovac.
Kovac struggles with the lack of Guirassy goals
Bayern and the championship fight or not – BVB still needs points and goals in the fight for the premier class places. And there has been a lack of goals recently, also and especially due to striker Serhou Guirassy’s lack of form. As has often been the case recently, when asked, Kovac commented on the ongoing topic of the Guinean, who has not scored a Bundesliga goal for ten hours.
“Of course we’re missing five or seven goals at the moment, which would be good for us,” said Kovac about Guirassy’s comparatively meager haul of five goals this season so far. “I know that he wants to achieve more. But there are phases like that. But we will do it together. It’s about building up the boy and pointing out what he can do better.”
Kovac did not reveal whether Guirassy could lose his starting place against Bremen to storm competitor Fabio Silva. “Performance counts, we’ll see the rest tomorrow. Serhou puts his foot down in training. Fabio performed well. Every single person gets their chance.”
Our sources:
- Borussia Dortmund press conference before the game against Werder Bremen on January 13th, 2026
Broadcast: “BVB coach Kovac draws comparison with Bayern,” WDR.deJanuary 12, 2016, 4:54 p.m
