![[Subscription Customers Only] Jul 5, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac reacts during a quarterfinal match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Lee Smith-Reuters via Imagn Images](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_52,w_2932,h_1649/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/395/01kgv6m52zd60f2vz1hf.jpg "[Subscription Customers Only] Jul 5, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac reacts during a quarterfinal match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Lee Smith-Reuters via Imagn Images")
Borussia Dortmund are in action away to Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga today, aiming to stretch their winning run in the competition to five games.
Trailing leaders Bayern Munich by just six points, Der BVB have blown the title race open by capitalizing on the holders slipping up in their last two games.
The upcoming game is a little more special though, as Niko Kovac is all set to return to his former stomping ground, the Volkswagen Arena, where he spent two years as the Wolfsburg manager.
In his 216th Bundesliga game in-charge, the Croatian could pick up his 100th win too as Kovac would join an elite list of managers to have achieved the milestones in the German top-flight.
17-year-old boy -wonder on the bench
While the official lineup isn't out yet, according to a verified source on X, Dortmund are set to announce teenager Samuele Inacio on the bench for Wolfsburg clash tonight.
If it's true, it would mark his first appearance for the senior team since joining the club's youth setup in 2024 with the young gun also being added to their Champions League squad.
A forward by trade, Inacio is also adept at operating as an attacking midfielder or a winger too and possesses good spatial intelligence. His eye for goal makes him an absolute predator in opposition box.
He was a big part of Italy's under-17 World Cup campaign last year as the Azzurris achieved a third place finish to secure bronze medal with Inacio scoring a team-high of four goals, all coming in the group stages.
Luca Reggiani, another Italian U17 players and the United States U18 star Mathis Albert are traveling with the squad too.
How Dortmund could lineup
With only three players currently out injured - Emre Can (adductor), Marcel Sabitzer (calf) and Filippo Mane (thigh) - Kovac has most of his key options available although Karim Adeyemi is also unavailable with the German star missing the trip.
Niklas Sule could come in for Mane in the defense, whereas Julian Ryerson shall replace Yan Couto in midfield. Serhou Guirassy could be rewarded for his heroics last weekend with another start, keeping Fabio Silva on the bench.
Italian U17 internationals Reggiani and Inacio, and US U18 international Albert will be on the bench for Dortmund as the youngsters will be keen to make their senior debuts for the side.
Expected starting XI: Gregor Kobel; Nico Schlotterbeck, Waldermar Anton, Niklas Sule; Daniel Svensson, Felix Nmecha, Jobe Bellingham, Julian Ryerson; Julian Brandt, Maximilian Beier; Serhou Guirassy.