Niko Kovac plans to end 2025 on a high with Borussia Dortmund as his team welcomes Borussia Mönchengladbach to the Westfalenstadion in the Bundesliga on Friday.
Dortmund has the chance to temporarily move up to second place with a win, although second-placed RB Leipzig are in action against Bayer Leverkusen 24 hours later.
It has been a sensational year for Kovac since joining BVB in January. After taking over an eleventh team, he guided them to the Champions League places in 2024-2025.
Only Bayern Munich have won more games (22 to 18) and scored more goals (92 to 61) than Dortmund since the Croatian replaced Nuri Sahin 11 months ago.
And with 29 points after fourteen games, Dortmund are enjoying their best Bundesliga season since 2021-2022, when they had 30 points at this stage under Marco Rose.
But despite Gladbach sitting in 11th place and thirteen points behind Dortmund, Kovac believes his players face a tough test against Eugen Polanski’s team.
“Gladbach have stabilized, they have made good progress. An uneasy team that will defend well. Our clear ambition is to win the last match of the year 2025,” Kovac said.
However, Kovac did not underestimate the huge improvements his team made throughout the calendar year, hoping the momentum can continue into 2026.
“We as a team have made good progress and are in a better position compared to last year,” Kovac added.
“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 battle for places within his squad, particularly in the full-back area between Julian Ryerson and Yan Couto.
Couto joined permanently from Manchester City after a strong start to his loan spell in the 2024/25 season, but has since been unable to secure a regular starting place.
Both players have shown their quality in the final third, with Ryerson’s three assists being the most in the Dortmund squad, although Couto is one behind him in the Bundesliga.
“With Couto you see how important it is to be physically fit. He has made great development in terms of fitness,” said Kovac.
“He has always had the football qualities. Julian Ryerson is also doing well, so tomorrow I will have the pain of choosing again.”
Kovac did confirm that he would have to do without duo Waldemar Anton and Aaron Anselmino in his defense, who are struggling with respective injury problems.
Jobe Bellingham will also be unavailable after his red card against Freiburg last season, while Ramy Bensebaini is at the Africa Cup of Nations with Algeria.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Borussia Dortmund-Julian Ryerson
Ryerson has been an integral part of Dortmund’s success this season, and you expect him to be key for his team if they are to come out on top here.
In the Bundesliga in the 2025-2026 season, he has registered team-high totals for assists (three) and chances created (16), and with Bellingham absent due to suspension, the defender could be Dortmund’s main creator.
Borussia Mönchengladbach – Nico Elvedi
Nico Elvedi is on the verge of making his 300th Bundesliga appearance, making him just the fifth non-German player to reach this milestone for one club in the competition.
He will follow in the footsteps of Dede (Dortmund), Steven Cherundolo (Hannover), Zvonimir Soldo (Stuttgart) and Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim).
The Swiss central defender has scored no fewer than 116 goals in the Bundesliga this season and will be happy to play an important role for Gladbach.
MATCH PREDICTION: BORUSSIA DORTMUND WIN
Dortmund have won 21 of their 23 home Bundesliga games against Gladbach (D1 L1) this century – more than against any other opponent in that period – including each of the last 11 in a row.
But apart from their favorable performance in this match, BVB were solid at the Westfalenstadion. They have won eight of their last ten home games in the Bundesliga (only Bayern Munich have more since matchday 27 last season) and lost none (D2).
Dortmund also conceded just seven home goals in that period, fewer than any other team in the competition.
In contrast, Gladbach last collected fewer points after fourteen games in a Bundesliga season in 2010/11 (10) than in the current season (16).
However, Polanski’s team has recently won three consecutive away games in the Bundesliga by nil. A fourth consecutive clean sheet would equal the club’s top-flight record (previously set in 1996 and 1970). Their five away goals in the 2025/26 Bundesliga are the fewest in the league together with Bayern.
OPTA CHANCE OF WINNING
Borussia Dortmund – 60.6%
Draw – 20.3%
Borussia Mönchengladbach – 19%
#Dortmund #Kovac #high #uncomfortable #Gladbach #Football #News