'Dortmund need his goals' – Kovac emphasises Guirassy importance

Nico Kovac emphasised the importance of Serhou Guirassy to his Borussia Dortmund side ahead of their Bundesliga clash against Wolfsburg.

After drawing their opening match against St. Pauli, Dortmund have recorded Bundesliga wins over Union Berlin and Heidenheim without conceding to remain within touching distance of leaders Bayern Munich.

Guirassy has scored four goals across those three matches and has only failed to find the net in one of their matches in all competitions this season.

Though he did not get on the scoresheet in their 4-4 Champions League thriller against Juventus in midweek, he did provide an assist for Karim Adeyemi's opener in that match.

Kovac believes Guirassy can challenge for the Bundesliga Golden Boot as his fitness could determine Dortmund's fate this season.

"He has scored in eight games in a row, [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang once managed ten, so he still has a bit to go. Every striker wants goals. We need his goals, and we need a healthy Serhou," said Kovac.

"The competition is strong [for the Golden Boot], and in the south of the country, there’s another one [Harry Kane] doing quite well.

"We will try everything to keep Serhou in the fight for the crown."

Wolfsburg are unbeaten after their first two matches in the Bundesliga this season, drawing their last two matches after an opening day win away at Heidenheim.

Speaking on their opponents, Kovac said: "They will certainly demand everything from us.

"We have to get to grips with our opponents and try to bring our qualities, which we undoubtedly have, into play as quickly as possible in order to win."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Borussia Dortmund – Serhou Guirassy

Guirassy has scored in eight consecutive Bundesliga matches (including a brace against Wolfsburg); among all foreign strikers in Bundesliga history, only Aubameyang (10) and Robert Lewandowski (four streaks, the longest streak being 15 consecutive matches) have had longer scoring runs.

The 29-year-old has also scored more goals against Wolfsburg than any other club in the top-flight (eight, the same as against Union Berlin).

Wolfsburg – Maximilian Arnold

Maximilian Arnold recently scored his 22nd Bundesliga goal from outside the box – a new Bundesliga record since detailed data collections (2004-05), ahead of Diego and Marco Reus (both 21).

However, in his 23 Bundesliga matches against Dortmund, he remains goalless – he has faced no other team in the top-flight as many times without scoring.

MATCH PREDICTION – BORUSSIA DORTMUND WIN

Dortmund have scored at least twice in each of their last 11 Bundesliga matches. The last time they achieved such a scoring streak was in 1995-96 on their way to becoming Bundesliga champions (a run of 14 consecutive matches).

They have also kept three clean sheets in their last four Bundesliga matches — as many as in their previous 22 Bundesliga matches combined.

However, Wolfsburg won their last two league away games against Borussia Monchengladbach and Heidenheim. The last time they had three consecutive away victories in the top-flight was in the 2022-23 season (three) under current Dortmund coach Niko Kovac.

Since their 3-1 victory in the 2015 DFB-Pokal final against Dortmund, Wolfsburg have only won two of their 21 games against the Black and Yellow (D2 L17).

In Dortmund, Wolfsburg has not won a Bundesliga match since 2012, picking up two out of a possible 36 points since then and losing all of their last seven away games.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Borussia Dortmund – 59.7%

Draw – 19.8%

Wolfsburg – 20.4%