DORTMUND (dpa-AFX) - Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac believes that playing the second leg away in the Champions League playoffs is no longer a significant disadvantage. "In the past, there was the away goals rule. That certainly made it more important than it is now," said the 54-year-old after the 2-0 defeat to Inter Milan. With this loss at the end of the league phase, BVB slipped out of the top 16.
In the playoffs for a spot in the round of 16, the Ruhr club will now face either Bundesliga rival Bayer Leverkusen or Atalanta Bergamo. The first leg will be played in Dortmund on February 17 or 18. The return leg will then take place on February 24 or 25, either in the Rhineland or in Italy. BVB will learn their opponent during the draw in Nyon on Friday at 12:00 p.m./the/DP/zb
