Kovac challenges Dortmund to ´play to their limits´ towards Juventus

Niko Kovac urged Borussia Dortmund to indicate their high quality and “play to our limits” to beat Juventus of their opening Champions League match.

Dortmund, who have been overwhelmed finalists in 2023-24, made it to the quarter-finals of the Champions League final season earlier than being knocked out by Barcelona.

Kovac has impressed a powerful turnaround since taking up in January, and Dortmund have made an unbeaten begin to the Bundesliga.

Dortmund shouldn’t have the perfect away report towards Italian sides within the Champions League, shedding 5 of their final six such video games (W1), together with a 2-1 defeat to Bologna final time period.

However Kovac is assured that his aspect can come away from Turin with a optimistic outcome on Tuesday.

“We’re enjoying away. That’s positively a bonus for Juve,” Kovac informed a press convention.

“We performed a pre-season match towards Juventus in Dortmund, and you could possibly see the standard this staff have.

“We’ve to play to our limits; we’ve to offer 100%. We wish to present that we’ve the standard to get a outcome right here.”

Ciao. @juventusfc pic.twitter.com/Ysv5rhJKDX

— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) September 15, 2025

Regardless of their poor report in Italy, Dortmund have been identified for his or her sturdy begins within the Champions League. They’ve received their opening sport in three of their final 4 campaigns within the competitors, solely failing to take action towards Paris Saint-Germain in 2023-24 (2-0 defeat).

They usually made certain they may not be counted out final season – they netted 10 targets from the seventy fifth minute onwards in Europe’s premier competitors in 2024-25, essentially the most of any staff (excluding additional time).

With no new main damage considerations, Dortmund want to carry their league kind into Europe, one thing Kovac believes they’re well-equipped to do.

“We’ve an excellent staff. When everybody is accessible, we’re very balanced, each by way of breadth and depth,” he added.

“For me, it’s about having competitors. The profiles are totally different. There must be the best stability between physicality, creativity and operating efficiency. If we will get a superb mixture of these, we’re in a superb place.”

And Marcel Sabitzer insisted Dortmund had the idea of their talents, setting their sights excessive from the very begin.

“Essentially, you at all times go right into a event to win it,” mentioned Sabitzer. “In any other case, there’s no level in competing.”

“[It will be] a special day, the most important doable stage for a participant at membership degree. I’m very glad that I’ve been capable of take part so typically and that I proceed to take action.”