Niko Kovac targets improving set pieces as Borussia Dortmund chase Bayern Munich

By SABC Sport
5th January 2026

Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac has said sharpening his side's set pieces was a clear priority as BVB prepared for the Bundesliga restart, insisting small details could make a big difference in the title race.

Dortmund returned to work at their training camp in Marbella ahead of the trip to Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday, sitting second in the Bundesliga, nine points behind leaders Bayern Munich. While BVB boast a healthy goal difference of plus fourteen, their 26 league goals trail a long way behind Bayern's 55.

Kovac was clear about where improvement is needed. "We also want to use this week to improve our set pieces; we want to create chances," he told the club's official website. "We already have our chances, we just need to make better use of them.

"It's all about the details: receiving the ball, carrying it forward, passing."

The numbers underline his point. Of Dortmund's 26 Bundesliga goals this season, only five have come from dead-ball situations, one penalty, two corners and two free-kicks. Bayern, by contrast, have scored six penalties alone, underlining how decisive set pieces have been for Vincent Kompany's side.

There could be a boost in the air soon. Defenders Waldemar Anton and Aaron Anselmino, both sidelined for Dortmund's final two matches of 2025 through injury, are close to returning.

"Waldi will hopefully be back tomorrow," Kovac said. "With Aaron, he still needs a few days. I hope he'll be ready by the weekend, but we won't rush anything or take risks, because we've seen how important he can be."

The Frankfurt match begins a demanding January, with home games against Werder Bremen and St. Pauli, league trips including Union Berlin, and Champions League ties against Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan all before the month is out.