Borussia Dortmund slumped to a 2-1 defeat to visitors VfB Stuttgart on Saturday in a disappointing debut for new coach Niko Kovac that dropped his team further away from the Champions League qualification spots.

There are three points between BVB in 11th place and VfB Stuttgart in 5th place. The Borussia Dortmund will welcome VfB Stuttgart with Stergiou, Rieder and Jaquez for the crucial game.

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.

Niko Kovac's first game in charge of Borussia Dortmund did not go to plan, as they were beaten by Stuttgart to leave them rooted in 11th.

DORTMUND, Germany (Reuters) -Ten-man Borussia Dortmund slumped to a 2-1 defeat to visitors VfB Stuttgart on Saturday in a disappointing debut for new coach Niko Kovac that dropped his team further away from the Champions League qualification spots.

Borussia Dortmund fell to a 2-1 home defeat to Stuttgart on Saturday in Niko Kovac's first game at the helm, slipping further away from the Bundesliga's top four.

Coach Niko Kovac made his debut for Borussia Dortmund with a 2-1 defeat at home against VfB Stuttgart on Saturday in the Bundesliga, while champions Bayer Leverkusen were held to a goalless draw at VfL Wolfsburg.