Niko Kovac remains confident in Serhou Guirassy ahead of the Bundesliga clash between Borussia Dortmund and Werder Bremen, despite the striker’s recent goal drought.
Guirassy has now failed to score in any of his last seven Bundesliga games, the longest streak without a goal in his German top-flight career.
The Guinea international has scored nine goals in all competitions this season, more than any other Dortmund player (Julian Brandt second with eight).
Guirassy also came under scrutiny after Dortmund’s thrilling 3-3 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday for giving away a penalty in the first half, but Kovac is confident he will be back among the goals soon.
“It’s clear that I appreciate him very much, support him and protect him,” Kovac said.
“That is also my job as a coach. I know what he is capable of. But I also know that he wants to achieve more.”
“He is our best striker. He always gives everything he can, always does his best. Of course we are missing five, six, seven goals at the moment.”
“But these breakdowns happen. We will get through this together. It is important to continue to build the boy up. He will be very important in the future.”
Dortmund are currently second in the Bundesliga, but are eleven points behind Bayern Munich after losing even more ground after the draw last time out.
BVB are on a nine-match unbeaten streak since their loss to the league leaders in mid-October as they prepare to welcome a struggling Werder.
Horst Steffen’s side are twelfth in the league and have failed to win any of their last five (D2 L3), although they have not yet played in 2026 as their match against Hoffenheim was postponed last weekend.
Despite Werder’s recent problems, Kovac remains wary of the threat posed to his team.
“I do believe that it is certainly not a disadvantage to already have a match under your belt and therefore have a bit of rhythm,” said Kovac.
“On the other hand, it can also be an advantage if you haven’t played this weekend. Werder is a good Bundesliga team, a strong team that wants the ball and wants to play football.”
“We have to try to ensure that the ball is in our possession more often than in the opponent’s.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Borussia Dortmund-Maximilian Beier
Beier has scored for the club for the first time in consecutive Bundesliga appearances (two goals), never done before.
He has scored three goals against Werder in the league, more than he has scored against any other team.
Not the start to the new year we were hoping for, but the end was once again excellent.
We go again on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/3sxc3Ui7Kj
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) January 10, 2026
Werder Bremen-Romano Schmid
Five of Romano Schmid’s six direct goals in this Bundesliga season have come from home (one goal, four assists).
No player has provided more assists in the German top flight this season than him; he last set up both Werder goals in their 3-2 defeat in Hamburg, but failed to register a goal in their final match away against Augsburg.
MATCH PREDICTION: BORUSSIA DORTMUND WIN
Dortmund are unbeaten in their last five competitive games against Werder (W3 D2) – the last time they played such a series under Jurgen Klopp was between 2011 and 2014 (six games).
In the Bundesliga, Dortmund has only won more games against Eintracht (51) than against Bremen (49), while Werder has only lost more top games against Bayern (64) than against the Black and Yellows.
Dortmund are unbeaten in their last nine Bundesliga matches (W5 D4), which is the second-longest active streak in the competition (after Bayern with 25). Since the international break in March 2025, Kovac’s side have lost just one of their 24 league matches (2-1 against Bayern in October).
Werder were winless in their last five Bundesliga matches (D2, L3); it is their longest streak since February-April 2024 (seven games). Since the start of MD11, no other team in the league has earned as few points as them (two).
Dortmund have lost just one of their opening 16 Bundesliga games this season (W9 D6) – something they have only managed four times before in the club’s top-flight history.
OPTA CHANCE OF WINNING
Borussia Dortmund – 66%
Draw – 18.3%
Werder Bremen – 15.7%
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