Newly appointed Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovač will lead his side for the first time on Saturday as they face Stuttgart at Signal Iduna Park in a crucial Bundesliga encounter.
Dortmund currently sit 11th in the table with 29 points after securing a 2-1 victory over Heidenheim on February 1.
Meanwhile, Stuttgart, positioned fifth with 32 points, suffered a 2-1 defeat to Borussia Mönchengladbach on the same date.
BVB's win over Heidenheim was well-earned, as they limited their opponents to no clear scoring opportunities while generating four of their own.
Their attacking display saw them register 16 shots, accumulating an expected goals (xG) total of over two.
Kovač takes over from interim boss Nuri Şahin, bringing extensive Bundesliga experience from his previous managerial roles at Bayern Munich, Wolfsburg, and Eintracht Frankfurt.
His arrival comes at a crucial time, as Dortmund remain within reach of a Champions League qualification spot.
They are just four points behind fourth-placed RB Leipzig, meaning a win on Saturday could significantly boost their European hopes, depending on other results.
Despite finding the net eight times in their last four outings, Dortmund's defensive struggles continue, as they have conceded six goals in that span and are without a clean sheet in 12 consecutive matches.
Their recent form has been inconsistent, with two wins and a draw in their last three fixtures following a four-game losing streak.
Notably, they suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat to Stuttgart in their previous Bundesliga meeting on September 22.
Home advantage has not been as dominant for BVB recently, as they have won just once in their last six matches at Signal Iduna Park.
However, before that dip, they had an impressive run of 11 consecutive home victories.
Stuttgart, on the other hand, had little argument about their loss to Mönchengladbach, who created four clear chances compared to Stuttgart’s one.
They responded positively in midweek, securing a 1-0 victory over Augsburg in the DFB-Pokal quarter-finals, surpassing their performance from last season's tournament.
Manager Sebastian Hoeneß will be pleased with his team’s defensive resilience in the cup win, as it was their first clean sheet in five matches—a stretch in which they conceded nine goals.
However, Stuttgart's recent league form has dipped, losing three of their last four. Before that slump, they had been in stellar form, winning eight of nine fixtures.
Away from home, Stuttgart have been particularly strong, winning four of their last five matches on the road.
Their ability to perform well on their travels could pose a challenge for Dortmund as Kovač looks to kickstart his tenure with a victory.
Kickoff Time: 3:30PM Nigerian Time
Date: Saturday, February 08, 2025
Venue: Signal-Iduna-Park