Borussia Dortmund ended a three-game winless run with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Sabah FK in Baku, a result that steadies the ship after a difficult spell. Serhou Guirassy scored both goals to give Kovac's side six points from three Champions League matches, keeping the top positions within reach. The win was far from convincing, with Dortmund conceding an equaliser before half-time and struggling to control a motivated but limited opponent, yet the three points matter enormously given the pressure building around the club.

That pressure stems partly from the injury situation. Konstantinos Karetsas, one of the team's most dangerous attackers since his summer arrival from KRC Genk, suffered a ankle ligament injury during the 0-0 draw at Union Berlin and will miss the Champions League trip to Baku and the Bundesliga match against Eintracht Frankfurt. His absence is a significant blow to a Dortmund attack that has already looked too reliant on individual moments rather than structured patterns.

In the Bundesliga, Dortmund sit second with 14 points from six games, level with Bayern Munich at the top. That competitive position remains intact, but the performance concerns are real. Kovac has publicly acknowledged his team's inconsistency, and the squad depth is being tested, with young players like Mathis Albert and Carney Chukwuemeka stepping into greater roles. Eintracht Frankfurt visit Signal Iduna Park next, giving Dortmund a chance to build on the Baku win and demonstrate more convincing form.