Dortmund fell to a 2-1 home defeat to Stuttgart on Saturday, losing more ground on the Bundesliga's top four as they now sit in 11th, six points behind their opponents.

Niko Kovac will name his first eleven as Borussia Dortmund head coach when they host Stuttgart at the Signal Iduna Park in the Bundesliga on Saturday afternoon. Two players he will have to do without

Kovac is set to take over the reins from interim boss Mike Tullberg, who took charge of three matches following Nuri Şahin’s dismissal last month. Tullberg started his temporary spell with a 2-2 draw against Werder Bremen, before he oversaw victories over Shakhtar Donetsk and Heidenheim in the Champions League and Bundesliga respectively.

The appointment of the Croatian represents a break from the norm at the Westfalenstadion but it might be the shock treatment this club needs

Coach Niko Kovac made his debut for Borussia Dortmund with a 2-1 defeat at home against VfB Stuttgart on Saturday in the Bundesliga. Stuttgart will be thankful to their former defender Waldemar Anton after he scored an own goal to give them the opener in the 50th minute.

For the first time in a while, there seems to be an air of excitement surrounding Borussia Dortmund. That’s because tomorrow’s match against VfB Stuttgart will be Dortmund’s first with Niko Kovac at the helm.

VfB Stuttgart hope to beat Borussia Dortmund again on Saturday in the Bundesliga but coach Sebastian Hoeness has admitted that the arrival of Niko Kovac as Dortmund coach is complicating matters for them.