Dortmund's Second Half Speed Crucial For Champions League Victory Over Sporting CP, Says Niko Kovac

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Niko Kovac highlighted Borussia Dortmund's increased pace in the second half as crucial to their Champions League play-off win over Sporting CP. The match, held on Tuesday, saw a goalless first half with Dortmund managing only one shot on target at the Estadio Jose Alvalade. However, they transformed after the break.

Two quick goals from Serhou Guirassy and Pascal Gross within eight minutes gave Dortmund control of the game. Karim Adeyemi then secured the victory in the final moments. Guirassy's performance was notable, as he has now been involved in 13 goals this Champions League season, setting a new record for a Dortmund player in a single campaign.

Kovac, leading his first Champions League match for Dortmund, extended his unbeaten streak away from home in the competition. He remains undefeated in seven away games (four wins and two draws with Bayern Munich, one win with Dortmund), marking the most matches managed on the road without a loss.

Dortmund initially struggled, recording an expected goals (xG) total of just 0.26 from six shots. However, their performance improved significantly after halftime. They achieved an xG total of 1.55 from ten attempts compared to Sporting's 0.2 and had 12 more touches in the opponent's box than in the first half.

"You cannot come here and dominate against Sporting," Kovac stated. "In the first half, we were far too slow." He noted that increasing speed after halftime led to great goals and praised his team's physical commitment. "To play here like that is not easy," he added.

Kovac acknowledged Sporting's strength in the first half and emphasized the need for faster play and fewer touches to take control. He expressed satisfaction with his team's decision-making throughout the match, noting they could have scored another goal.

Looking Ahead

As Dortmund prepares for their next Bundesliga match against VfL Bochum on Saturday, Kovac acknowledged the challenge ahead. His team currently sits 11th in the Bundesliga standings. "We now have to keep going," Kovac remarked, emphasizing the importance of maintaining momentum.