Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich preview - Gotze awaits hostile reception

Posted Saturday, April 04, 2015 by PA

Mario Gotze is not expecting a warm welcome on his return to the Westfalenstadion this Saturday - and he will do all he can to further disappoint the Borussia Dortmund faithful.

Gotze has already lined up against his former team-mates once in Bayern colours, and his reception was not particularly a warm one from the 80,000 Dortmund fans.

His second game there was in a Germany shirt, when he was better received, but he does not expect the home fans to have reviewed their opinions of a player whose move to their arch-rivals was announced just 24 hours before a crucial Champions League semi-final two years ago.

"I'm open to surprises, but I don't think all that much will have changed," he said on his club's website.

"But I can deal with that. I've experienced it a few times already so it's normal."

The 22-year-old will be leading Bayern's assault on three points in a game known as Der Klassiker in these parts.

"We're going to put everything into this game," he vowed. "Hopefully we can reach our best level and win this match.

"It's going to be an exciting game - a game between two evenly-matched sides. This is the game of the year in the Bundesliga."

It will take place without three key players on Bayern's side with Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben and David Alaba all missing out.

"Every game is like a final now and the players have got to realise that I want more, more, more," said Bayern coach Pep Guardiola, who will not take injuries as an excuse.

"If we don't win games, then it's our own fault. It's April now and April is a decisive month."

While Bayern's third straight title seems to have been decided already, with a 10-point cushion at the top over second-placed Wolfsburg, Dortmund's destiny is still to be written.

Having risen off the foot of the Bundesliga to 10th in two months, they are back in the hunt for a place in Europe next season.

"Saying 'what happens if' before a game doesn't usually get you very far, but we don't have any problems motivating ourselves," said Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp.

"There is no new objective within the club. We're all aware that every point we collect opens up more opportunities for us.

"But we've got to get those points first and then re-evaluate the situation after."

Klopp is without the injured Nuri Sahin, but Erik Durm is back after recovering from injury during the international break.