Rare Start for Gio

Midfielder Made Second League Start of the Season in Dortmund Victory

Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac gave Giovanni Reyna a rare start on Saturday, playing 70 minutes in an attacking midfield role as BVB secured an emphatic 6-0 victory over Union Berlin. The appearance marked just the second Bundesliga start of the season for the U.S. international, who has struggled for consistent playing time throughout the campaign.

Despite contributing to a convincing team victory, Reyna had a relatively quiet individual performance. The 22-year-old managed just one touch inside the opposition penalty area. While he maintained solid passing accuracy, completing 20 of 23 attempts, his defensive contribution was less effective, with only three successful tackles from seven attempts in midfield.

Notably, Dortmund's attack came alive after Reyna's substitution in the 70th minute, with the team scoring four times in the final 20 minutes. It was Reyna's first start since the Champions League appearance against Bologna on January 21. The win was highlighted by a remarkable four-goal performance from striker Serhou Guirassy.

The rare start comes at a crucial time for Reyna's future, as he enters the final year of his contract with Dortmund. The club is reportedly open to reasonable transfer offers, having previously been willing to sell him for around €20m last January. Since the start of the 2021 season, Reyna has started just 12 Bundesliga games, with injuries and coaching changes contributing to his limited opportunities.

Dortmund hopes this commanding victory can spark a turnaround in their domestic form, as it has represented only their second Bundesliga win since the start of 2025. They return to action next Saturday against FC St. Pauli, with Reyna hoping his performance was enough to retain his place in Kovac's starting lineup.