Every German football feel-good story requires some sort of Wendepunkt ("turning point"). In the case of Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac, it arrived in the middle of a lackluster effort at RB Leipzig on March 15. BVB went on to lose 2-0, an emphatic defeat against a direct rival for a European place, and one that left die Schwarz-Gelben seemingly stranded in 11th place with only eight weeks left in the season.

For Kovac, it was an ignominious fourth reverse in six Bundesliga matches since taking over the reins of a club searching to make something stick.

Despite the defeat in the East, Kovac switched the formation at halftime to one featuring a Dreierkette ("back three"), which better suited the squad at his disposal, bringing greater stability. Little did we know we were

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