After a mixed Bundesliga season, Borussia Dortmund suddenly faces the Champions League before moving into the Champions. Trainer Niko Kovac relies on a lot of tailwind from the past few weeks – and wants to hide parallels to a bitter setback from the past.
The constellation in the fight for the Champions League is before the grand finale on 34. Bundesliga-To -game day not entirely uncomplicated. Eintracht Frankfurt, SC Freiburg and Borussia Dortmund Fight for the remaining places – depending on the outcome of the games, there are different scenarios. And yet the task for BVB is quite simple: against relegated Holstein Kiel, it must be scored in front of a home crowd.
A draw is only enough for the Dortmund if the fourth -placed Freiburger loses against Frankfurt. A victory with two gates would be sufficient for Dortmund, however bordering, probability for the Champions League feed, regardless of what the competition organizes.
BVB coach Kovac: “Have to win the game”
For coach Niko Kovac, the route is therefore clear: “We want to and have to win the game.” The approach of the Dortmund should be based on the past few weeks in which the BVB increased under the Kovac, who was only committed in February 2025 and a catch -up of eleven (27th matchday).
“The last few weeks have shown that we have done a lot right in the approach, in implementation, in the game,” said Kovac confidently. There will be major adjustments against Kiel – even if midfielder Pascal is closed: “We have an important game, we all know that. And that’s why there is no need to change, because change always means a bit of departure from what was good.”
Now it’s about taking the last step – and as is well known, the last step can always be the most difficult.
One thing is clear: the strong Dortmunders are the clear favorite for Kielers that have already been relegated. And yet nervousness stimulates in the BVB environment when it comes to this final against a supposed underdog. This is due to a not inconsiderable game in Dortmund’s recent club history: In May 2023, the black and yellow played the championship that was already believed to be safely believed.
2023: coach Terzic (right) and Jude Bellingham after the missed championship
A horror scenario on the last matchday-which should not be repeated from a BVB perspective. In view of the expected question of the Mainz game, Kovac was emphasized, nothing wanted to know from parallel to the game of two years ago: “We don’t have to rummage around in the past, we live in now and now.”
Kehl has “worked up” Mainz game for a long time
An understandable reaction, the almost chronically inconsistent BVB cannot allow itself to fall into old behavior patterns by nervousness. “We have to call up everything that has made us strong over the past few weeks,” said Kovac. A sentence that sounds like a lot of pressure – and yet Dortmund’s coach emphasizes the joy of the last Bundesliga game of the season: “End games are the games that we want to play footballers. These are the dreams you have as a teenager.”
Fear -rabbit football with the Mainz game in the back of the head – also for sports director Sebastian Kehl, no realistic scenario: “We have been dealing with this game for a long time”. The opponent is more concerned about the Dortmund. “We want to win the game, but I’m still saying: It will not be easy,” said Kovac about the North German: “It is a team that is very strong, which is dangerous and who defeated us in the first leg (2: 4, note, editor).”
Dortmund needs money for the squad
Financially and sporty, missing the Champions League would be a bitter disappointment, even if the team recently caused a more conciliatory look at the season for the season. The expensive team needs to be paid for, necessary squad adjustments are much easier to implement with the money from the top European class. “Mainz 2.0” – it would not be a horror scenario like “Mainz 1.0”, and yet an enormous setback. The pressure is at BVB.
