Dortmund aiming to end 2025 on a high
Niko Kovac intends to finish 2025 on a high with Borussia Dortmund as his team welcome Borussia Monchengladbach to Westfalenstadion in the Bundesliga.
Dortmund has the chance to temporarily move to second in the table with a win, though second-placed RB Leipzig is in action against Bayer Leverkusen 24 hours later.
It's been a sensational year for Kovac since joining BVB in January. After taking over a team that was 11th, he guided it to the Champions League spots in 2024-2025.
Only Bayern Munich has won more games and scored more goals than Dortmund since the Croatian replaced Nuri Sahin 11 months ago.
With 29 points after 14 games, Dortmund is enjoying its best Bundesliga season since 2021-2022, when it had 30 points at this stage under the guidance of Marco Rose.
But despite Gladbach being in 11th and 13 points adrift of Dortmund, Kovac believes his players are in for a stern test against Eugen Polanski's team.
"Gladbach has stabilised, they've made good progress. An uncomfortable team that will defend well. Our clear ambition is to win the last game of the year 2025," Kovac said.
Kovac did not, however, understate the huge improvements his team has made over the calendar year, with the hope that momentum can continue into 2026.
"We as a team have made good progress and are in a better position compared to last year," Kovac said. "We need the stadium – it has magic and energy. Very often we need a boost from the stands – it helps to decide the games in our favour."
Kovac was also on hand to discuss the competition for places within his squad, most notably in the full-back area between Julian Ryerson and Yan Couto.
Couto joined Dortmund permanently from Manchester City after a strong start to his loan spell in 2024-2025, but has since been unable to tie down a regular starting spot.
Both players have showcased their quality in the final third, with Ryerson's three assists the most in the Dortmund squad, though Couto is one behind him in the Bundesliga.
"With Couto, you can see how important it is to be physically fit. He has made a great development in terms of fitness," Kovac said.
"He has always had the footballing qualities. Julian Ryerson is also doing well, so tomorrow I'll have the agony of choice again there."
Kovac did, however, confirm that in his defence, he would be without duo Waldemar Anton and Aaron Anselmino, who are struggling with respective injury issues.
Jobe Bellingham will also be unavailable after his red card against Freiburg last time out, while Ramy Bensebaini is at the Africa Cup of Nations with Algeria.
