Champions League: Kovac laments collapse as Dortmund squander late lead against Juventus

Dortmund’s Dramatic Late Collapse Leaves Bitter Taste in Champions League Opener

In a nail-biting UEFA Champions League clash at Juventus Stadium, Borussia Dortmund watched a 4-2 lead slip away in stoppage time, ending in a thrilling 4-4 draw against Juventus. The match on Tuesday night turned into a rollercoaster that stunned most of Dortmund’s players, who could only stare at TV replays in disbelief afterward.

Dortmund coach Niko Kovac didn’t hold back on the frustration. "It feels like a defeat, even though we scored four goals against Juve," he said. The 53-year-old boss praised his team’s overall effort as top-notch but slammed the final minutes for the costly slip-up. Still, he urged a positive spin, pointing to the club’s tough recent history—like losing the 2022/23 Bundesliga title on the last day and falling to Real Madrid in the 2024 Champions League final.

"We’ve shown we can go toe-to-toe with Europe’s elite teams," Kovac added. He’s focused on building stability for his squad, which has seen plenty of ups and downs since he took over. No big talk of trophies yet—just steady progress.

The wild finish in Turin made it hard to stay upbeat. Forward Karim Adeyemi echoed the disappointment: "We shouldn’t have let a game like that get away. It’s a draw, sure, but it stings like a loss." Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, the Swiss star, called for more smarts in crunch time. "We need to play mature football and get gritty in those dying minutes," he said. "A point is good, but three would have put us in the top eight for knockout qualification."

Dortmund’s troubles boiled down to sloppy defending—they kept passing short instead of clearing the ball safely when leading. "Don’t treat your own box like a playground in the final moments with a lead," Kovac warned. "We’ll fix that."

Looking ahead, Dortmund faces Athletic Bilbao on October 1 in their next Champions League match. The Black and Yellows also have tough tests against Inter Milan, Tottenham, and Manchester City in the group stage. Can they bounce back from this chaotic draw? Fans are hoping for some Champions League magic soon.

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