Borussia Dortmund’s Niko Kovač ready for ‘tough test’ against Mainz | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund’s Niko Kovač ready for ‘tough test’ against Mainz | OneFootball

In partnership with

Yahoo sports
Icon: Get German Football News

Get German Football News

·25 September 2025

Borussia Dortmund’s Niko Kovač ready for ‘tough test’ against Mainz

Article image:Borussia Dortmund’s Niko Kovač ready for ‘tough test’ against Mainz

After a Matchday 1 draw against St. Pauli, Borussia Dortmund come into their Bundesliga clash against Mainz on the back of three successive league wins. But Niko Kovač has warned his players of a difficult task, commending Saturday’s opponents.

“Mainz has developed tremendously under Bo Henriksen,” said Kovač in Thursday’s press conference. “They played a great game against Wolfsburg and then last week against Augsburg. They’re an unpleasant opponent, a very vocal team. There’s a real danger that they’ll concede a lot of chances against them.


OneFootball Videos


“I expect a tough task but we’re on a good run and want to continue it.”

Borussia Dortmund have only won one of their last five Bundesliga games against Mainz, which came under Kovač with Emre Can and a Maximilian Beier brace securing a 3-1 win. In the two games that preceded that, Dortmund conceded three on both occasions.

Borussia Dortmund’s personnel situation

Speaking in the press conference, Kovač confirmed that Niklas Süle and Fabio Silva have been partially integrated in training, but that he and his staff would wait until Friday before making a decision on whether or not the duo will feature in the matchday squad.

View publisher imprint