For many, Borussia Dortmund have been the team of the Champions League thus far, and in Mario Gotze they have one of Germany’s brightest stars.
By Declan Whooley
Only 20 years-old, Gotze is the fulcrum of Dortmund’s attacking game as some of Europe’s bigger guns have found to their cost. With back-to-back Bundesliga titles, the way they thrived in the so-called ‘Group of Death’ came as little to surprise to those who have watched them surge past Bayern domestically.
Undefeated in a group that pitted them with Real Madrid, Ajax and Man City, the German side only dropped points after conceding last-minute equalisers at the Etihad and Bernabeu. And central to their good work is Gotze.
An attacking midfielder who can play on the right or left, he is the product of the Dortmund academy, and like many of the current crop of internationals, has versatility in his armour. You know when Franz Beckenbauer describes him as “one of the best talents that we’ve (Germany) ever had”, he is more than a bit decent.
Defences everywhere have struggled to contain Gotze, along with Marco Reus, as an attacking threat, and Irish fans can thank their lucky stars that he was absent for the massacre in the Aviva last year when Germany strolled to a 6-1 victory because it could have been even worse.
Tormenting City in the group stages
Having been with the club since he was eight, Gotze made his first-team debut in November 2009 and quickly played a key part of the Bundesliga winning squad.
His play-making skills were instrumental in helping the club retain their title the following season, though his season was disrupted with injury, and Jurgen Klopp was adamant that the club would make their mark this year in Europe, which they certainly have.
After such an impressive group stage – he was on the score sheet in Madrid and Amsterdam – hopes were high of progress despite facing Shakhtar as tricky last 16 opponents.
After a credible 2-2 draw away, Dortmund really showed their class in the return leg, with Gotze leading the way. He scored a goal and assisted another as the Germans scored an emphatic 3-0 win and booked their place in the finals for the first time in 16 years.
Gotze is being heavily linked with Real Madrid and Man Utd in recent weeks, and with the form he is in now, you would have to say he would walk into either side. Malaga are the next team to try to tackle the problems that Gotze and co. will pose and the Spanish side will only be too well aware that should they limit his influence they will give themselves a great chance of making the semi-finals.
Though he is barely out of his teens, he is set for a big future in the game, whether that is in Germany or elsewhere.
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