Borussia Dortmund are at a difficult crossroads, balancing genuine Bundesliga title ambitions against a run of inconsistent performances that has raised real questions about their attacking output. The club sits second in the Bundesliga with 14 points from six games, level with Bayern Munich at the top, yet three matches without a win have taken the edge off what had been a promising start under Niko Kovac.

The 0:1 defeat at Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League, where Kovac admitted his side had barely shown up for the first hour, was followed by a frustrating 0:0 draw at Union Berlin. That result brought further bad news when Konstantinos Karetsas, one of the club's most exciting attackers since his 30 million euro summer arrival, twisted his ankle and was confirmed out for the upcoming Champions League fixture at Sabah FK and the Bundesliga home match against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Kovac's side head to Baku sitting 18th in the Champions League standings with three points from two games, making Tuesday's match a significant one for their European ambitions. Off the pitch, the club secured a boost when Kovac signed a contract extension through 2029, though reports suggested he had pushed for a longer deal. Defender Luca Reggiani's future looks increasingly uncertain, with the kicker reporting that club bosses doubt he can meet the level required, making a January exit likely.