Borussia Dortmund News: Guirassy Matches Kane’s Champions League Record as Kovac Contract Details Emerge
Borussia Dortmund ended a difficult run of results with a hard-fought 2-1 Champions League victory over Sabah FK, powered by a decisive performance from Serhou Guirassy. The striker scored twice, bringing him level with Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane for the most Champions League braces since the start of the 2024/25 season.
The win also offered head coach Niko Kovac a welcome boost after three matches without victory. Dortmund created plenty of opportunities but left the door open for Sabah with a series of defensive errors. In the aftermath, Kovac praised his side’s attacking display, while sporting director Ole Book pointed to signs of progress. Meanwhile, reported details of Kovac’s contract extension through 2029 have added another talking point for Dortmund supporters.
Guirassy’s brace puts him alongside Harry Kane
Guirassy was the standout performer as Dortmund beat Azerbaijan’s Sabah FK 2-1 in the Champions League. His two goals brought his total to four in this season’s competition and marked his seventh brace in the tournament since the beginning of the 2024/25 campaign. That figure puts him level with Kane, one of Europe’s most prolific forwards.
The achievement underlines Guirassy’s value to Dortmund. His goals provide a reliable attacking outlet, particularly in a team that can create chances but has not always converted them efficiently. Against Sabah, the striker delivered when it mattered, helping Dortmund secure three points after a frustrating spell across all competitions.
Guirassy was pleased with the result but admitted the performance could have produced a more comfortable scoreline. “I’m a little torn,” he said after the match. “I’m happy with the win; it was important for the team. But we missed some chances.” His assessment reflected a familiar theme for Dortmund: strong attacking spells, followed by missed opportunities that keep opponents within reach.
At the final whistle, Guirassy was also among the leading scorers in the Champions League this season, alongside Ermedin Demirovic of Stuttgart, Nicolo Tresoldi of Club Brugge and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland. The competition remains early, but his current form gives Dortmund a potent goal threat as the league phase continues.
Dortmund halt a worrying run of results
The victory over Sabah ended a three-match winless stretch for Dortmund. The team had been held back by inconsistent results, including a 1-0 Champions League defeat to Bodø/Glimt in Norway on the previous matchday. With six points from their first three league-phase games, Dortmund have restored some momentum and kept their European campaign on track.
Kovac was encouraged by the attacking performance, saying Dortmund created enough chances to win by a much wider margin. In his view, converting even half of those opportunities could have produced a three- or four-goal victory. However, he also acknowledged that lapses in concentration allowed Sabah to remain competitive.
“We made a small mistake once or twice, and that brought our opponents back into the game,” Kovac said. He described the match as hard work but considered the result deserved. His comments point to the balance Dortmund must find: maintain their attacking ambition while reducing the errors that give opponents a route back into matches.
Book also welcomed the win, particularly after the long journey and the disappointment in Norway. He said the three points were important for both the team and the travelling supporters, and noted that Dortmund had shown a clear improvement in their play. Like Kovac, however, he felt greater composure in front of goal would have made the evening less tense.
Midfielder Joey Veerman, who impressed and provided the assist for the winning goal, shared that view. He felt Dortmund had produced a stronger performance than in the previous week, both in the quality of their chances and their overall play. But he stressed that the side should have put the result beyond doubt by scoring more.
Kovac’s reported contract includes bonuses and an exit clause
Off the pitch, attention has turned to the reported terms of Kovac’s new deal. The Dortmund coach recently extended his contract until 2029, and German publication Sport Bild has reported that the agreement includes performance-related bonuses as well as a so-called “firing clause.” The club has not publicly confirmed the reported financial details.
According to the report, if Dortmund and Kovac decide to part ways before the contract expires, the arrangement could allow for an immediate termination. The club would reportedly calculate the salary remaining through June 2029 and pay half of that amount. Such a provision could give both sides a defined route to a separation while limiting the coach’s full remaining salary burden and allowing him to speak with other clubs without a transfer fee.
The reported contract also includes substantial rewards for success. Kovac is said to earn a base salary of around five million euros, with a further 1.2 million euros for winning the Bundesliga and the same bonus for lifting the Champions League trophy. A DFB Cup triumph would reportedly bring an additional 500,000 euros.
The length of the agreement may be just as significant as its reported financial terms. Kovac had accepted a shorter extension in August 2025, but the latest deal adds two years and keeps him at Dortmund until 2029. Reports suggest he pushed for a longer commitment during negotiations that began towards the end of last season. The agreement signals an intention to build a sustained project alongside sporting director Ole Book and managing director Lars Ricken.
Upcoming fixtures: Frankfurt, Bremen and Bayern
Dortmund’s next challenge is a return to Bundesliga action against Eintracht Frankfurt. The match provides an immediate opportunity to carry the confidence from the European win into domestic football, where consistency will be essential if the club is to remain in contention near the top of the table.
The schedule then brings a DFB Cup meeting with Werder Bremen before a major Bundesliga test against Bayern Munich. That clash could offer an early measure of Dortmund’s progress against one of their strongest rivals—and, with Guirassy now matching Kane’s Champions League brace record, the spotlight will be firmly on the forwards.
Borussia Dortmund’s next matches
Bundesliga: Borussia Dortmund vs Eintracht Frankfurt — Saturday, 24 October, 6:30 p.m.
DFB Cup: Borussia Dortmund vs Werder Bremen — Tuesday, 27 October, 8:45 p.m.
Bundesliga: Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund — Saturday, 31 October, 6:30 p.m.
For Dortmund, the immediate prediction is that the Sabah victory can become a turning point—but only if the team improves its finishing and protects leads more effectively. Guirassy’s scoring form is a major positive, and Kovac’s reported long-term deal suggests the club is backing continuity. The coming fixtures will show whether that confidence can translate into consistent results across Europe and German football.
