"Everyone is in good shape" - Niko Kovac offers squad update ahead of Berlin clash

Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac is delighted to have a full squad for their clash against Union Berlin today as they are in action away at the Stadion An der Alten Frosterei in the Bundesliga.

The BVB are aiming to get back on their feet again after seeing their perfect start end with a whimper against Werder Bremen last weekend as Dortmund let a two-goal lead slip in the final seven minutes to draw 2-2.

Ahead of their travel to Berlin, Kovac shared a positive update on the squad which should delight the BVB fans.

Everyone is in good shape! Nico Schlotterbeck is back, so we have a full roster to draw from.

Schlotterbeck was rested from their visit to Norway on Wednesday for their Champions League clash to manage his workload after sustaining another injury last month, but he's now been recalled into the fold and could slot right back into the starting XI.

Only the long-term absentees are missing right now, with Emre Can and Giannis Konstantelias both recovering from a torn ACL and expected to return only in 2027, whereas Justin Lerma remains out with a muscle problem.

When questioned on the gametime for the players, Kovac merely said:

Every single player who’s here has the right to play.

The 55-year-old remained evasive on revealing who exactly he intends to play in Berlin tonight, vaguely saying that fit players from the squad will get a chance.

For the game in Berlin, we’ll take a close look at who has recovered well, is fresh, and is ready to take on the challenge. Whoever is ready to take that on will also have a good chance of playing tomorrow.

Borussia Dortmund might have struggled lately but have every reason to be optimistic of their chances against Union Berlin, having beaten them convincingly in their last three clashes with 12 goals and conceding none.

In fact, Dortmund boast a spectacular head-to-head record against the Iron Ones, with 10 wins in the league from 14 clashes, although all four of their defeats in the fixture have come away from home, with the last one in 2024.

Then there's Berlin's own poor run of form too. Finishing 11th last season, they have fared much worse in the current term with just one win from the opening five games, although that win came in their most recent clash on 10 October against Elversberg, which restored some confidence in the squad.