Borussia Dortmund ended a difficult run of form with a 2-1 Champions League win over Sabah FK in Baku on Tuesday, but the result came with caveats. Serhou Guirassy scored twice to secure the points, yet the performance was far from convincing against limited opposition. The win was nonetheless significant: BVB had gone three games without a victory, and the pressure on Niko Kovac was building after a 0-1 loss to Bodø/Glimt and a frustrating 0-0 draw at Union Berlin. Six points from three Champions League games keeps the club on track in Europe.

The Union Berlin draw brought fresh injury concern. Konstantinos Karetsas, one of BVB's most important attacking players since his 30-million-euro arrival from Genk, suffered a ankle ligament injury and will miss the upcoming Champions League trip to Baku and the Bundesliga match against Eintracht Frankfurt. His absence adds to a sense of fragility in a squad already managing multiple fitness issues.

Off the pitch, the squad's future shape is taking form. Defender Luca Reggiani looks set to leave in January, with the club's hierarchy reportedly concluding he cannot meet the level required. Inter Milan and AC Milan have been linked. Meanwhile, BVB sit second in the Bundesliga on 14 points, level with Bayern Munich, keeping their title challenge alive. Eintracht Frankfurt visit Signal Iduna Park on Saturday.