Despite being thrashed 4-0 at Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovač still believes a spot in the semi-finals is possible—if something extraordinary happens in the second leg.
Last season’s Champions League runners-up, Borussia Dortmund, now face the threat of an early exit in the quarter-finals. After a heavy first-leg defeat at the hands of Barcelona, they’ll need a miraculous turnaround at home to stay alive in the tournament. For that to happen, head coach Niko Kovač is urging his players to show a completely different version of themselves in the return leg.
Dortmund were dismantled 4-0 last week at the Camp Nou in the first leg, with their former striker Robert Lewandowski scoring twice for the Spanish giants.
The return leg is set for Tuesday at Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park, with kickoff scheduled for 1:00 AM Bangladesh time.
Under Hansi Flick, Barcelona are currently on an incredible run—unbeaten in their last 24 matches across all competitions. In fact, they are the only team in Europe’s top five leagues yet to lose a game in 2025.
Acknowledging the scale of the challenge, Kovač spoke at the pre-match press conference on Monday with determination and belief. He also called on the fans for their full support:
“We’re aware of the situation. Tomorrow (Tuesday), we want to show a completely different side and win the match. Miracles do happen, but we also know that Barcelona haven’t lost a competitive match this year.”
“From the first minute tomorrow, we need to throw everything at them—and we’ll need our supporters right there with us.”
Dortmund, currently eighth in the Bundesliga table, may also have to face this critical match without their captain Emre Can. The 31-year-old midfielder is dealing with a muscle problem and remains doubtful for the game.
