Borussia Dortmund face Sabah FC in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, with kick-off at 18:45 at the Baku Olympic Stadium. According to SPORT1, Dortmund coach Niko Kovac has made four changes to the starting eleven he fielded in the 0-0 draw at Union Berlin. Carney Chukwuemeka comes into the side for his first start of the season, and the Austrian international turns 23 on the day of the match. Ramy Bensebaini, Joey Veerman and Fábio Silva also return to the lineup.
The fixture is Sabah's second home game in the competition. The Azerbaijani club beat Slavia Prague 2-0 on matchday two, a result SPORT1 describes as the first win in a major European competition in the club's history.
Why it matters
The match pits a Dortmund side searching for consistency against a Sabah team playing with unusual momentum. Dortmund travel to Azerbaijan after a 1-0 defeat at Bodø/Glimt, and SPORT1 reports that the club has lost four of its last six Champions League matches. In the 17 games before that run, Dortmund had also lost only four times in the competition. The contrast gives the trip added weight for Kovac, whose team is under scrutiny after a mixed start.
For Sabah, the stakes are historic. A second straight win would make Valdas Dambrauskas's side only the second club from Azerbaijan to win two consecutive matches in a major European competition. SPORT1 notes that Qarabag is the only Azerbaijani club to have achieved the feat, and has done so six times.
Kovac calls for sharper play
Kovac has spoken about the need for improvement, with the outlet freenet Mail reporting his call for his team to "play faster and more precisely." SPORT1 also mentions that a recent setback around the club, described as a "small experience," and pessimistic assessments from Dietmar Hamann have been part of the discussion surrounding Dortmund in recent days.
The starting lineup reflects Kovac's attempt to freshen up the side. Chukwuemeka's inclusion is the most notable call, handing the midfielder a first start this season on his birthday. Dortmund confirmed the eleven on social media with a post highlighting the occasion.
History favors Dortmund, but the record is mixed
Dortmund have won all four of their competitive European matches against opponents from Azerbaijan, according to SPORT1, including two meetings each with Qarabag and Qabala. The broader record for Azerbaijani clubs against Europe's leading leagues is far less favorable: SPORT1 reports that teams from the country have won only one of 14 Champions League matches against sides from Europe's top five leagues.
One player to watch is Serhou Guirassy. SPORT1 reports that the striker has been directly involved in 24 goals across 22 Champions League starts for Dortmund, and that he scored twice in his only start this season, against Villarreal. His record gives Dortmund a focal point as they look to end their recent run of results in the competition.
What to watch
Sabah's home form and the memory of their win over Slavia Prague make them more than a backdrop, while Dortmund's recent Champions League record adds pressure to a match they are expected to win. Whether Kovac's four changes produce the faster, more precise performance he has asked for will be the central question in Baku. The game is available via SPORT1's live ticker.