Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovač says the UEFA Champions League encounters with Barcelona last season sparked his side’s uptick in form and results in the final straight of 2024/25.

Kovač took over on 2 February this year, succeeding interim coach Mike Tullberg, who himself stepped in after Nuri Şahin’s dismissal.

Dortmund were in 11th place at the time, having won just eight of their 20 Bundesliga assignments.

Fast forward to the end of the campaign and BVB ended up in fourth, securing Champions League qualification after winning nine and drawing one of their last 14 league games under Kovač.

“We didn’t have an easy time at the beginning,” the 53-year-old said in an interview with Dortmund’s YouTube channel.

“I remember the first six games. We lost four of them and hit rock bottom against Augsburg. We didn’t play well – neither did they – but they won. That was our low point.”

Nevertheless, BVB still navigated their way past Lille in the Champions League last 16 during that period, setting up a quarter-final tie against Hansi Flick’s Barcelona.

Dortmund lost the first leg in Spain 4-0, but a brilliant display in a 3-1 victory in the return leg at the Signal Iduna Park proved to be a watershed moment for the team, despite their elimination from the competition.

“I think the game against Barcelona, especially the second leg, opened our eyes and showed us what we’re capable of,” Kovač continued.