Trainer found, direct eve final participation missed: Despite the 3: 1 (2: 0) against Schachtar Donetsk for the preliminary round final of the Champions League, Borussia Dortmund has to take the detour of the playoff round. There, in mid-February, either Sporting Lisbon or Club Bruges and thus feasible opponents are waiting for the Champions League finalists of the previous year.
Then ex-Bayern coach Niko Kovac should make the round of 16 perfect. After the game, Dortmund’s managing director Lars Ricken confirmed that the 53-year-old will succeed Nuri Sahin.
“We have reached a fundamental agreement, Niko will then take over the team on Sunday,” said Ricken at “DAZN”. Several media had previously reported. In the Bundesliga game on Saturday at the 1st FC Heidenheim, Mike Tullberg is said to sit on the coaching bench again.
The first competitive game in this calendar year made a double pack of Serhou Guirassy (17th minute, 44.) and a wonderful lupfer by Ramy Bensebaini (79.). A heavy mistake by goalkeeper Gregor Kobel enabled Donetsk in the meantime the connection goal by Marlon Gomes (50th).
Are there any other changes?
Even before the game, sports director Sebastian Kehl had declared “Dazn” to be “on the home stretch” with a candidate. It is possible that more decision -makers will have to leave the club after the transfer period on Monday. The future of Kehl, squad planner Sven Mislintat and consultant Matthias Sammer is open.
With Kehl, the Westphalia had only extended the contract almost three weeks ago. Although reinforcements were urgently needed and required, the throat and mis was, which should be disputed to recover only loan players Salih Öczan from VfL Wolfsburg as a replacement for the injured Felix Nmecha.
Against the third in the table of the Ukrainian league, which is still during the winter break until the end of February, it was also sufficient on Wednesday. The fifth Champions League victory in the eighth preliminary round game was balm for the wounds of the past few weeks.
“The victory already feels really good,” said Ricken. “It was already good against Werder Bremen. That shows how we have to tackle our games. It was an absolutely deserved victory.”
Kobel-Patzer brings Donetsk back into play
This time Tullberg had chosen a much more offensive line -up. His team had a considerable possession of the ball against an extremely harmless opponent from the start and was already fully deserved at half -time. A bad dropout Kobels then briefly brought the guests back into play. Not for the first time, the Swiss national goalkeeper showed problems in the game structure and processed a back pass from Pascal Groß too lightly. This was used by the approaching Marlon Gomes and blocked the ball into the net.
The Dortmunders then seemed threatening, but had other good opportunities. Bensbaini used one of them with a remarkable goal to the final score.
You can find out who the Dortmund meet in the playoffs, find out at the draw on Friday (12 p.m.). In the round of 16, Aston Villa or OSC Lille would go.