Borussia Dortmund will be looking to carry the momentum from their impressive 6-0 victory over Union Berlin into their upcoming clash against St. Pauli in the Bundesliga. Head coach Niko Kovac expressed his confidence in his team’s ability to secure a win in his first-ever meeting with St. Pauli.
Currently sitting in 10th place in the Bundesliga standings, Dortmund is just six points away from securing a European spot for next season. After finally securing his first league win since taking charge of the team, Kovac is determined to lead BVB to back-to-back victories for the first time this season.
“The way we won against Union was crucial. We played with dynamism, aggression, and intensity,” Kovac emphasized to reporters. “This performance shows the players that we still have what it takes. If we continue to play as a united team, we will earn points.”
Kovac acknowledged that St. Pauli may not be the highest-scoring team, but they are also difficult to break down defensively. Dortmund will need to be proactive in creating chances against their compact opponents. “The more chances we create, the higher the probability of scoring goals,” Kovac added.
While St. Pauli has only managed one victory in their last 13 competitive meetings with Dortmund, they did emerge triumphant in their most recent home game against BVB in January 2022.
Dortmund’s struggles have primarily been on the road this season, as they have only collected eight points away from home so far. Only Holstein Kiel and Bochum have had worse away records in the 2024-25 season, with both teams earning just three points on their travels.
However, Dortmund’s hopes of securing just their third away win of the campaign have been boosted by the return of Julian Brandt, who missed their dominant 6-0 win over Union Berlin. Kovac mentioned that Brandt is an option for the upcoming match, but they will need to make the right decisions regarding his fitness.
On the injury front, Felix Nmecha is still unavailable, and Julian Ryerson is recovering from a mild flu infection and won’t be part of the matchday squad.
Kovac also praised midfielder Marcel Sabitzer for his recent performances, highlighting his technical skills, composure, and ability to control the game. Sabitzer’s passing accuracy and defensive contributions make him an essential player for Dortmund.
After their clash with St. Pauli, Dortmund will turn their attention to a Champions League last-16 first leg match against Lille on Tuesday.
