Niko Kovač has taken responsibility for Borussia Dortmund's first defeat of the season, saying his five changes to the starting line-up were a key reason for the 1-0 Champions League loss at Bodø/Glimt. His side now travel to Union Berlin in the Bundesliga on Saturday, kick-off 14:30 UK.
Kovač: "I picked the team"
Frederik Sjøvold scored the only goal in the 52nd minute in northern Norway on Wednesday (match report). Dortmund only got going after Kovač made four changes around the hour, bringing on Serhou Guirassy, Julian Ryerson, Felix Nmecha and Ethan Nwaneri.
"I picked the team, and it didn't go well," Kovač told DAZN, according to dpa. He said his side lacked passion and intensity in the first half and "didn't play the football we needed". He did not spare the players who came in: everyone in the squad has the quality to play, he said, "but today it didn't work".
The defeat came a day after Dortmund extended Kovač's contract to June 2029, along with assistants Robert Kovač and Filip Tapalović. The club say his average of 2.15 points per Bundesliga game is the best of any Dortmund head coach.
Union Berlin v Dortmund: the form
Dortmund are joint top of the Bundesliga with Freiburg on 13 points and are unbeaten after five games (four wins, one draw). Their last league game was the 2-2 draw with Werder Bremen (report), and they have won both of their away league games.
Union are 16th with four points and a goal difference of minus 12. Mauro Lustrinelli's side have taken four points from three home games, but have conceded 17 goals in five matches.
Team news
Emre Can and Giannis Konstantelias are long-term absentees with knee injuries, and Jhon Lerma is out with a muscle problem, according to the Bundesliga's team news. Filippo Mané is a doubt. Ryerson's return from the bench in Bodø is a boost after his recent rib problem, and the regulars who started on the bench in midweek are expected back.
Union are without Ilić and Markgraf, with Lathe Lath, Nsoki and Juranović all doubtful.
What comes next
Saturday is the first of two big tests for the leaders before Der Klassiker. Dortmund host Eintracht Frankfurt on 24 October and visit Bayern Munich on 31 October. Bayern play RB Leipzig on Saturday evening, three hours after Dortmund kick off in Berlin.
For club form and fixture data, see the BetAlert database. A free BetAlert account gives you access to its account checks.