Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac has called on his team to deliver a spirited and passionate performance as they prepare to host Barcelona in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday. The German side faces an uphill battle after suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat in the first leg at Camp Nou, with former Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski scoring twice to put the Spanish giants firmly in control.
Speaking at Monday’s pre-match press conference, Kovac acknowledged the magnitude of the challenge but insisted that his side must show resilience and fight from the very first whistle.
“We know the situation. We want to show a completely different face tomorrow than in the first leg and win the game,” said Kovac. “There are always miracles, but we also know that Barcelona haven’t lost a competitive game yet this year.”
Barcelona, unbeaten in 2025 and chasing a historic treble, travel to Germany as heavy favourites. Despite the odds, Kovac believes that the support of the home fans could give Dortmund the boost they need.
“We have to be there from the first minute tomorrow and get the fans on our side. We’ll only get the necessary wind from them, the willingness to run, performance and passion.”
Dortmund’s struggles have extended beyond Europe, with the team currently eighth in the Bundesliga on 42 points. To make matters worse, they could be without captain Emre Can, who has been battling a persistent adductor injury.
“We rested Emre in training today. He’s had muscular problems in his adductor area for weeks now and he’s always gritting his teeth,” said Kovac. “It’s possible he won’t play tomorrow, we’ll have to see.”
The coach also had high praise for Felix Nmecha, who returned from a knee injury earlier this month and has begun to regain form.
“Felix has developed very well as a player and as a person. He can do everything on the ball, has great dynamics and is a complete player,” Kovac said. “After his long injury, he’s still a little behind in terms of fitness.”
With a near-impossible task ahead, Dortmund will need more than just tactics and talent—they’ll need belief, heart, and perhaps a touch of Champions League magic.
