'Miracles happen', says Kovac before uphill Barca battle / Photo: Ina FASSBENDER - AFP
-
Rennes beat Marseille to seize top spot in Ligue 1
-
Faultless Duplantis, hungry Ingebrigtsen shine at inaugural Ultimate
-
Duplantis delivers masterclass for Ultimate pole vault win
-
Roblox to launch wallet to pay creators faster and will allow off-platform gaming
-
Weapons, spyware and AI scams: Anthropic exposes Claude misuse
-
Springboks wary of new-look All Blacks in Baltimore test
-
Gary Oldman hopes Jack Lowden is the new James Bond
-
Townsend, Siniakova win US Open doubles for career Grand Slam together
-
Six-stop race is best on tyre-shredding Madrid track says Russell
-
Verstappen unimpressed with new Madrid street track
-
Prosecutors seek up to 10 years prison over violent burglary of Donnarumma
-
Razaullah heroics deny England quickfire win in 3rd Test against Pakistan
-
Solheim Cup on a knife-edge after Korda record
-
Masks banned at planned UK protests: police
-
Corruption probe targets Brazil presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro
-
Antonelli on top ahead of Ferraris in Madrid practice
-
New No.1 Rybakina out to thwart Sabalenka US Open three-peat bid
-
Dance Fitness Tempe Announces Expansion of Accessible Digital Movement Programs
-
US marks 25th anniversary of 9/11 attacks
-
Nashville airport to be renamed after Dolly Parton
-
'That's why we fight': Trump links 9/11 to Iran conflict
-
Argentina's Dirty War rears its head in Venice film
-
Europe saw record summer air traffic despite Mideast war: Eurocontrol
-
'Whatever we do is political' says Iranian director Asgari at Venice
-
De Zerbi coy over unsettled Richarlison's Spurs future
-
UK lawmakers throw out bill to legalise assisted dying
-
Brazil president candidate Flavio Bolsonaro targeted in corruption probe
-
Relatives of 9/11 victims hit out at Saudi Arabia -- and US leaders
-
England dismiss Pakistan's Masood to close on victory in 3rd Test
-
Egyptian teenager Abdelkarim to extend Barca deal to 2030
-
Oil prices, US inflation stoke Fed hike worries
-
Macau to hold closed-door trial in first national security case
-
Free-scoring Chelsea must tighten up, says Alonso
-
Philippines recovers 30 bodies from ferry after blaze
-
US inflation steady in August, fueling Fed rate hike expectations
-
Relative of 9/11 victim unleashes searing attack on Saudi Arabia
-
United boss Carrick dismisses Anderson's 'kings of Manchester' jibe
-
Russell edges Antonelli in accident-free opening practice in Madrid
-
New York marks 25th anniversary of 9/11 attacks
-
Sweden's outgoing PM wants to 'make Sweden great again'
-
Yemen's Houthis take over strait vital to global shipping
-
Fenced off: Thailand builds border wall after Cambodia clashes
-
Russia rolls out long-delayed 5G, but not for iPhones
-
Pakistan's Masood frustrates England's victory push in 3rd Test
-
DR Congo Ebola outbreak spreads to 7th province
-
Revitalised Isak in a 'good place' at Liverpool: Iraola
-
Turning up the heat: Arteta reveals 'challenges' for Arsenal stars
-
Arsenal boss Arteta 'very surprised' at Jesus blast over Barcelona move
-
F2 crash in Madrid underlines fears over 'riskiest track'
-
Czech antitrust office lets Turkey's Pegasus Airlines buy Smartwings
'Miracles happen', says Kovac before uphill Barca battle
Trailing 4-0 going into Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final return home leg against Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac said his side can draw inspiration from Liverpool's 2018-19 comeback against the same opponents.
In that season, eventual winners Liverpool scored four at Anfield in the return leg to reach the Champions League final, after a 3-0 loss in Catalonia.
Kovac said Barcelona were a better team now than six years ago, but told reporters "miracles happen all the time".
"We can remember the (Liverpool) game -- I can remember it. But that was then and now we're in 2024-25. We know the situation -- we didn't play well in the first leg," Kovac said.
"We want to show a different face tomorrow and we want to win. By how much, nobody can say now.
"Miracles happen all the time, but Barcelona have not lost a game in 2025, which makes the challenge much more difficult. It won't be easy."
Barcelona's last loss came on Christmas Eve. Since then, Hansi Flick's side have won 20 and drawn four matches in all competitions.
Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha said his team-mates "believed" in the comeback.
"With our fans behind us, anything is possible. We have to believe in it and we do believe in it," the 24-year-old German international explained.
Dortmund captain Emre Can did not train on Monday due to "muscular problems" and Kovac said: "We don't know if he'll be able to play -- it's quite possible that he will not."
Kovac, Dortmund's third coach this season after taking over in January, praised Barcelona's glittering forward line including Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, but singled out striker Robert Lewandowski.
Lewandowski won two Bundesliga titles and played in the 2013 Champions League final with Dortmund, before spending eight years at Bayern, where he was coached by Kovac.
He won the Champions League in 2020 under Kovac's successor Flick, now the Barcelona coach.
"He's a great professional," the Croatian said. "I've seen many good ones. But this guy? He lives, eats, drinks like a pro and does everything possible to stay fit."
Kovac, known for his focus on training and discipline, said anyone who hugs Lewandowski remarks "wow, what an Adonis".
R.J.Fidalgo--PC
