Niko Kovac believes Borussia Dortmund delivered the perfect response to their Champions League setback against Juventus with their win against Wolfsburg on Sunday. 

Dortmund opened their European campaign with a 4-4 draw away to Juventus, despite leading by two goals heading into second-half stoppage time at Allianz Stadium. 

Dusan Vlahovic and Lloyd Kelly sealed a share of the spoils for the Bianconeri, though Dortmund bounced back in the Bundesliga as Karim Adeyemi struck the decisive blow against Wolfsburg.

Indeed, Dortmund are currently on a 12-match unbeaten streak in the German top flight (W10 D2), their longest such stretch since between April and October 2023. 

Even more impressive is the manner of their recent victories – it is the first time they have managed three consecutive clean sheets on home soil since autumn 2020.

And though not at their best against Wolfsburg, they were worthy of their win, registering an expected goals (xG) total of 1.14 from their 20 shots to their opponents' 0.79. 

Another positive was the return of defender Nico Schlotterbeck, who completed the duration of the encounter having missed the last six months with a meniscus injury. 

Kovac was quick to laud Dortmund's medical team for their efforts to get Schlotterbeck back to health, while acknowledging the improvements made by others in his ranks.

"I'm delighted that we won, that it was a clean sheet and that Schlotti came through 90 minutes. We were fresh, energetic, and we gave pretty much nothing away," Kovac said.

"We deservedly won the match. We would, of course, have liked to win by a greater margin against a good, structured Wolfsburg team.

"The lads are continuing to improve, even if there are setbacks from time to time. But we are consistently taking steps forward.

"For me, it is important that players are healthy after an injury and come back fit. That has worked out brilliantly in Schlotti's case.

"Compliments to the rehabilitation team. That's how I envisage it going when a long-term injury absentee returns."