Soccer Football - Champions League - Knockout Phase Playoff - First Leg - Sporting CP v Borussia Dortmund - Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal - February 11, 2025 Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac REUTERS/Pedro Nunes/ File Photo
BERLIN (Reuters) - Bayern Munich's Champions League loss to Inter Milan could prove a distraction for the Bavarians in the Bundesliga Klassiker against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, and the visitors need to take advantage of it, Dortmund coach Niko Kovac said on Friday.
Bayern suffered a 2-1 home loss in their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday with the return leg next week in Milan.
Kovac, whose team lost 4-0 to Barcelona on Wednesday in their quarter-final to all but end their Champions League run, said Bayern could be distracted by their return leg in Italy and their better chances of advancing.
"Bayern have a tough task ahead of them in Milan, to turn the tie," Kovac told a press conference. "In their heads they may be a bit in Milan and we will have to take advantage of that in Munich.
"But that can happen only if we are at 100%. If we put in less than 100% it is difficult to decide the game in our favour."
Bayern are in top spot on 68 points, six clear of second-placed Bayer Leverkusen, while Dortmund are eighth on 41, five off fourth spot that leads to automatic Champions League qualification.
Kovac said his team needed to be far sharper than against Barcelona if they wanted to have any chance in Munich.
"When you play football you have to work collectively and we did not do that against Barcelona," he added.
"That is what I addressed and what we need to change for tomorrow's game because Bayern also have world class players. If we don't do that it will be tough in Munich this is what I demand and I will demand it tomorrow as well."
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
