Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund's general director, Hans-Joachim Watzke, has said star forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang would "think about" a move to Barcelona or Real Madrid if they were to make an offer for him.

The Gabon international has shone at Westfalenstadion and is rated as one of the best strikers in world football. Naturally, he's been linked with some of the biggest clubs in the game, and while Watzke said the club is confident of keeping Aubameyang, he conceded Real and Barca carry a certain gravitas.

"I think he will stay with us," Watzke told Sport1 show Doppelpass (h/t EP, via AS). "But if Real Madrid or Barcelona come along with an offer, maybe he'll think about it. The rest of the clubs who are interested in him are not really an alternative for him. And certainly not Bayern [Munich], because we wouldn't allow him join them."

Since taking up a position at the point of the Dortmund attack toward the back end of the 2014-15 season, Aubameyang has gone from strength to strength.

The striker's searing speed has always terrified opponents, although earlier in his career, Aubameyang lacked the composure needed to take full advantage of the great positions he would find himself in. But with 25 league goals last term and that tally already matched before Easter this season, now he does.

Here's a look at some of his best moments from the 2016-17 season in a Dortmund jersey:

Any notion that Aubameyang was going to be a one-season wonder has been dispelled this term. 

After losing Mats Hummels, Ilkay Gundogan and Henrikh Mkhitaryan ahead of the campaign, 2016-17 was always going to be a season of transition for Thomas Tuchel's young side. But Aubameyang has assumed a talismanic role, taking hold of games and netting crucial goals in some big matches.

At 27, it may well be the best time for Aubameyang to think about making that jump to one of the behemoths of European football too. After all, as these numbers from Squawka Football show, his goalscoring record is as good as anyone's in the continent's top five leagues:

Most non-penalty goals in Europe's top 5 leagues 2016/17:

P. Aubameyang (24)
L. Suarez (24)
R. Lukaku
A. Belotti
L. Messi
E. Dzeko (all 23) pic.twitter.com/ypaxzpPF6a

— Squawka (@Squawka) April 9, 2017

So talented is Aubameyang he could do a fine job for either Barcelona or Real Madrid; it'd be fascinating to see how he'd fit into either XI, as each of the La Liga giants has a formidable forward line.

At Madrid, the Gabon star would likely tussle with Karim Benzema for a starting spot, with Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo indispensable on the flanks. Aubameyang has spoken about his desire to play for Los Blancos too, revealing last year that he'd promised his grandfather he'd line up for them in the future, per beIN Sports (h/t MailOnline's John Downes).

Barcelona have arguably the most dangerous front three in world football at their disposal in Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar. If Aubameyang could be integrated into the team alongside that threesome, the Blaugrana would be an even more irresistible force.

  

For more news, rumours and related stories about Aubameyang, Borussia Dortmund and the Bundesliga, check out the Bundesliga and Dortmund streams on Bleacher Report's app.

Borussia Dortmund are set to fine Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang €50,000 for his goal celebration on Saturday, in which he put on a mask as part of an advertising campaign for Nike.

According to Bild (h/t Stephan Uersfeld of ESPN FC), the player is sponsored by Nike, and his celebration promoted the company's "The Masked Finisher" campaign.

Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke said: "This behaviour is unworthy of a big corporation. It can't be that we have to force through the economic interest of Nike in this way. Our partner is Puma."

Puma, who not only supply BVB's kit but are also a shareholder in the club, released a statement: "We are surprised that a competitor puts a player in such a situation."

The striker scored his 24th Bundesliga goal in as many games this season, and his celebration earned him a yellow card.

Per ESPN FC's Stefan Buczko and Bleacher Report UK's Lars Pollmann, manager Thomas Tuchel commented on the celebration but does not want Aubameyang to change:

Tuchel: "Upstairs will handle the situation with @Aubameyang7, I will focus on the sporting side of things." #BVBHSV https://t.co/zbuWWSQpca

— Stefan Buczko (@StefanBuczko) April 3, 2017

Tuchel: "We anticipated a sequel to the Badman/Spiderman celebration. But that wasn't the case, which makes it a bit harder." #BVBHSV

— Stefan Buczko (@StefanBuczko) April 3, 2017

https://twitter.com/LarsPollmann/status/848871567291535360

According to Uersfeld, the club had said they would be speaking to the Gabon international earlier in March after he appeared to dye the Nike logo into his hair.

Borussia Dortmund's forethought and shrewdness in the transfer market never fails to impress, and the club continued to plunge rival fanbases into jealous despair by confirming the signing of Mahmoud Dahoud from Borussia Monchengladbach on Thursday.

The Syrian-born midfielder will join the club this summer and cost a relatively measly £10.3 million, per Ed Aarons of the Guardian.

It's yet another example of sporting director Michael Zorc acting swiftly to bring in an asset he knows will improve the first-team squad immeasurably, and this move comes less than a month after it was announced Omer Toprak would swap Bayer Leverkusen for Dortmund in the summer too—a transfer that surprised no one considering it has been on the cards since mid-2016.

Dahoud's fee represents a profit for Gladbach, as he joined the club in 2010 aged 14, but the deal will ensure Dortmund make an even bigger one should they sell him in a few years. The 21-year-old is one of the most highly rated young midfielders playing in Europe and will bring something sorely lacking to this BVB XI.

Manager Thomas Tuchel has tried in vain to replace Ilkay Gundogan's driving, roaming presence in the centre of the park last summer, but perhaps predictably, no one has come close to replicating what the Germany international offered.

Since his sale to Manchester City, a whole host of names have partnered Julian Weigl in 2016-17—Gonzalo Castro, Raphael Guerreiro and Sebastian Rode among them—but not one delivered what has been required.

Dahoud will.

Whenever he's started for Gladbach, he's brought elegance and intelligent movement to their play. The team's formation changes a lot, but no matter whether it's a back four or a back three, or a midfield two or three, he's impressed; as B/R's Lars Pollmann put it: "Play Mo Dahoud and good things happen."

He's been excelling of late in a multifaceted role, often picking possession up off the defence while playing as the central, deepest midfielder in a three, moving it forward and shuttling into space. He drifts into dangerous areas and shifts the ball quickly, upping the tempo of Gladbach's play.

Off the ball, Dahoud's a snappy presence who reads the game well and darts to the ball quickly in an attempt to regain possession. He takes up a position in his line in deeper areas, then pounces as opponents move the ball laterally, tearing out and dispossessing. It's an effective tactic and makes up a large part of his 2.7 tackles and 1.8 interceptions per game in the Bundesliga this season.

Dahoud is adept at taking players on, and while he's not a prolific dribbler, he knows how to square up an opponent in order to open space, then pick a route to move into. His low centre of gravity allows him to change direction quickly and pirouette on the ball in tight spaces.

He is also an excellent creator and long passer, able to lift delicate passes in behind for runners and thread the eye of the needle along the floor. Some of the chances he's fashioned over the past few months have left spectators gushing.

All of these qualities are sorely needed at Dortmund, where too much of a burden has fallen upon Weigl and Ousmane Dembele this season. As good as the former is at starting play from deep, he needs help. And as remarkable as the latter is in the final third, it can't all fall on him every week—it becomes too predictable.

Then there's the added concern that a centre-back duo of Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Toprak, while hard as nails, can't help build play from the back. And if Tuchel switches to a back four at any point, Weigl would then be in serious need of assistance from another ball-player.

This season, Castro has been too inconsistent, as has Guerreiro and both Shinji Kagawa and Rode subpar. There's a spot begging to be taken in this midfield, no matter the formation, and Zorc has tied down the perfect man for the job.

A first-team starter from the outset with a high ceiling, Dahoud's a front-runner for best bargain of the window, bringing all of the qualities Dortmund need in one package.

   

Facebook.com/SamTigheBR

All statistics via WhoScored.com.

Borussia Monchengladbach confirmed on Thursday that Mahmoud Dahoud will join Borussia Dortmund this summer.

The Bundesliga outfit announced the news via social mediay:

BREAKING: Mahmoud #Dahoud will complete a move to @BVB this summer. More details: https://t.co/3NLCLuOLRv pic.twitter.com/ucyT1VVk5C

— Gladbach (@borussia_en) March 30, 2017

Gladbach sporting director Max Eberl commented on the move:

#Eberl: "A decision has been made: Mahmoud #Dahoud will be leaving us. He has chosen to join Borussia Dortmund." #fohlenelf

— Gladbach (@borussia_en) March 30, 2017

#Eberl: "It was important for the player and the club that a decision was reached. Now it's off our minds and we can move on." #fohlenelf

— Gladbach (@borussia_en) March 30, 2017

Dahoud has long been linked with a switch to Liverpool, with the Liverpool Echo's James Pearce reporting in February that the Reds were eager to snap him up last summer, only to be knocked back. However, he added it had "all gone very quiet" on that front since.

Eberl also pledged to "reinvest the money" on a "good replacement" for him, while manager Dieter Hecking said Gladbach have "shown in recent years that we can compensate well for losing players of his quality," per the club's official Twitter account. 

As reported by ESPN FC's Stefan Buczko, Dahoud has put pen to paper on a five-year deal with BVB.

BT Sports' Archie Rhind-Tutt and Sky Sports' Alex Chaffer gave a run down of his strengths and weaknesses:

Given what Thomas Tuchel has done with Julian Weigl in a similar position at Dortmund, very much understand why Dahoud would opt for BVB

— Archie Rhind-Tutt (@archiert1) March 29, 2017

As @archiert1 tweeted the other day, Dahoud still incredibly raw. Needs discipline, control and fine-tuning. Dortmund the perfect place.

— Alex Chaffer (@AlexChaffer) March 30, 2017

The 21-year-old enjoyed a breakout season last year, which brought him to the attention of Europe's more illustrious sides.

Dahoud will be the man to finally replace Ilkay Gundogan in Dortmund's midfield, where he will likely be tasked with forming a partnership with Julian Weigl.

As Squawka Football demonstrated, the Germany under-21 international is joining an array of top young talent at Signal Iduna Park:

Dortmund's future

A. Isak (17)
C. Pulisic (18)
F. Passlack (18)
O. Dembélé (19)
E. Mor (19)
M.Merino (20)
M. Dahoud (21)
J. Weigl (21)

Wow pic.twitter.com/wWUNla3s1W

— Squawka (@Squawka) March 30, 2017

Sports journalist Jonas Giaever hailed the club's transfer activity, while Bundesliga writer Lars Pollmann noted the effect his arrival will have on manager Thomas Tuchel:

Ömer Toprak and Mahmoud Dahoud for about €25m. Dortmund may already have won this upcoming summer transfer window. And we're in March!

— Jonas Adnan Giæver (@CheGiaevara) March 29, 2017

https://twitter.com/LarsPollmann/status/847403778458263554

Dortmund—who have routinely seen their best players poached by Bayern Munich, including the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Mats Hummels—have built a squad that's filled to the brim with ability and potential.

It could take at least two or three years for some of their younger players to reach their best, but if they can also hold on to stars such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, they're set to provide Bayern with a real challenge in the Bundesliga down the line.

Dahoud will no doubt prove to be an outstanding buy.

Borussia Dortmund starlet Emre Mor only made the move to the Bundesliga last year, but he's already dreaming of a transfer to La Liga giants Real Madrid. 

Speaking to Hurriyet (h/t Omnisport, for Yahoo Sports), the 19-year-old said he wouldn't mind playing for rivals Barcelona, either:

Dortmund is one of the best teams in the world. I am learning a lot.

I want to play for Real Madrid, to be a star. My biggest dream is to one day wear the Real Madrid jersey, even if it is a bit too early for it.

I know myself and I think I could play for Barcelona, too. When? I do not know yet.

Per the report, the teenager has scored just once for Dortmund during his first season at Signal Iduna Park.

Mor moved to BVB last summer after a successful period with Danish side FC Nordsjaelland and an impressive showing with Turkey at UEFA Euro 2016.

He arrived almost simultaneously with Ousmane Dembele, and the duo—along with Christian Pulisic—were seen as the future of the team's attack.

Mor has needed a little more time to get adjusted than the other two, but he has flashed his talent on plenty of occasions. Here's a look at some of his highlights:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKQFC9AcxPE

He's an extremely agile dribbler with good vision and athleticism, and while he's yet to find much of a scoring touch, he has all of the tools to become a world-class forward.

In Dortmund, he finds himself in one of the best environments for young footballers to develop, even if competition for spots is fierce. Following the arrival of Alexander Isak in midseason, BVB have an absurd amount of young attacking talent. 

But Mor should dream big, even if BVB fans won't like him openly discussing a transfer away from the club less than 12 months after arriving in Germany.

On Wednesday, Borussia Dortmund will enter into the biggest match of their season so far, and one which will go a long way toward defining the relative success of their season. There is little margin for error as they receive Benfica for the return leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, backed by the famous Yellow Wall but lacking the safety net of an away goal in hand.

They will not, however, stray too far from their principles. The task of supporting 25-goal Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will most likely fall to a pair of teenagers, the 19-year-old Ousmane Dembele and Christian Pulisic, who is still 18. There are few clubs who would embrace such a strategy for a crucial sellout match to be played in front of 65,000-plus.

Then again, Dortmund are not just any club, and the pair are not just any teenagers. If the club's commercial department has shaped BVB's public image around the motto of Echte Liebe ("real love"), drawing heavily on the passion of the Westfalen atmosphere, then the football side of the operation has carved its own, complementary niche of outlook in attracting the brightest young talent from across Europe to create a squad for the future.

In the last two transfer windows alone, Dortmund have signed five players 22 years old and under for transfer fees adding up to an estimated €40 million. Three of the those (the last of which was the January arrival of Swedish sensation Alexander Isak) were teenagers.

At most other top-level clubs, this might be seen as a cynical stockpiling of potential stars of the future to keep them from the clutches of competitors and as future transfer-market collateral. The big difference is that at Dortmund they're not kept parked on the drive for show. They play.

Let's look at last summer's arrivals. Dembele has already become a cornerstone of BVB's attack. Raphael Guerreiro, a relative veteran at 23, has been held up by a couple of minor injuries, but he is also regarded as important to the first team already and is almost always a starter when fit.

Emre Mor, at 19 and having arrived from Danish football, has already received five starts. The 20-year-old midfielder Mikel Merino, who has made two Bundesliga starts, is regarded as important enough to the immediate future that Dortmund have kept him around the first team despite his lack of match action. It was clearly felt that he is best where he is, continuing to learn the ropes.

Merino's case is an interesting one. Many other clubs would loan him out to get him game time, experience and—maybe with a view to cashing in if the right offer came up—visibility. Yet BVB believe obviously he is in the perfect place to improve already.

Part of that is with an eye to the future, of course. Julian Weigl, a relative veteran at 21 but who signed from 1860 Munich at 19, is surely coveted among a clutch of Europe’s biggest clubs. Even if he signed an extended deal to 2021 before Christmas, as per Bundesliga.com, it could be that one day, Merino may well get the call to replace him.  

Stocking up in terms of real depth of talent is the best insurance policy for this sort of future occurrence that Dortmund could have. That opportunity to shine at the top level is important in attracting the best—after they have been spotted by head of scouting Sven Mislintat, who uncovered players including Robert Lewandowski and Shinji Kagawa—but so is the possibility of making that step up to elite level after a while. 

This is nothing new with Dortmund, of course, where the perception is just as important as the detail of the reality when it comes to attracting players.

Jurgen Klopp's successful teams, and their success in grabbing worldwide media attention, clearly enhanced Dortmund's reputation as a go-to destination—and the image of his teams was an overwhelmingly youthful one. Seven of the starters in the 2013 Champions League final defeat to Bayern Munich were 24 and under, with four more of the same age bracket—led by Nuri Sahin—on the bench.

In the first of Klopp's two title-winning seasons, 2010-11, his most-used outfield players in the Bundesliga included Mats Hummels (who was 21 when the season began), Kevin Grosskreutz (22), Sahin (22), Sven Bender (19) and Mario Gotze (18).

Germany's ability to develop players of the highest technical level has risen stratospherically over the last 15 years, as noted in Raphael Honigstein's book Das Reboot, for one.

At Dortmund, the desire to do so is even more intense, with the use of the pioneering Footbonaut, which arrived in Klopp's reign. A good example of its use was detailed by Goal.com here last October. It was administered, until recently, by Pulisic's father Mark, who has just left his job as an academy coach there.

"Kids want change," said Pulisic senior. "Kids like things to be different." He might have been talking about the Footbonaut, but that principle is just as applicable to Dortmund as a whole. The opportunity is the carrot at the end of the line, but the attention to detail is what maintains focus on a day-to-day basis.

In the last two years, Thomas Tuchel has been integral to those methods. "He is a very special coach, who attaches great importance to tactics," Gotze said during the club's training camp this winter, as per ESPN FC. He also noted Tuchel's intense coaching during the games themselves, which Gotze said was "something I have never seen before."

So even since Gotze's first BVB spell, things have developed apace. His transfer to Bayern Munich in 2013, and Lewandowski's later move south, hardened resolve to find a workable alternative strategy, as a reminder that BVB can’t quite compete financially. Getting the talent early makes perfect sense.

Whether Tuchel will be around to preside over it much longer is open to debate, with talks planned on his future with CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke at the end of the season. Tuchel's relationship with Mislintat has reportedly fizzled to non-existent, according to multiple reports cited by ESPN FC.

The coach has been open that much of the recruitment goes on without him, led by Watzke and sporting director Michael Zorc, on Mislintat’s recommendations. "I found out very late that we signed him," he said of January’s signing of Isak, per the Mirror. "I was told about the transfer last week and when he was introduced to me," he continued, though he did add that "the signing made 100 per cent sense for BVB."

Whether Tuchel stays or goes, that strategy will remain the same. Quite how far it can take them—and how quickly these young players are ready to seize gala occasions by the horns—will become clearer against Benfica. That they have the chance to will surely attract the cream of the next generation, home and abroad.

Borussia Dortmund will attempt to overturn their first-leg defeat against Benfica on Wednesday, as the Bundesliga giants host the Portuguese side in the return leg of their UEFA Champions League tie.

Benfica were the better team in the first leg and deservedly walked away with a 1-0 advantage, but BVB have improved their form since then, culminating in an impressive 6-2 win over Bayer Leverkusen at the weekend.

Injuries remain an issue for the hosts, who will nonetheless like their chances of advancing.

Date: Wednesday, March 8

Time: 7:45 p.m. GMT/2:45 p.m. ET

Venue: Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund

TV Info: BT Sport 3 (UK), Fox Sports 2 (U.S.)

Live Stream: BT Sport app, Fox Soccer 2Go

Team News

Per WhoScored.com, Mario Gotze and Marco Reus remain sidelined, alongside long-term absentees Sven Bender, Nuri Sahin and Sebastian Rode, thus greatly diminishing the team's depth and overall quality.

Gotze's setback in particular came as a huge shock. As shared by Squawka News, his problem is far more rare:

BREAKING: Borussia Dortmund announce that Mario Gotze will remain sidelined for some time after being diagnosed with a metabolic disorder. pic.twitter.com/VH5t6GCXDN

— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) February 27, 2017

Benfica have been without Alex Grimaldo for some time now, while Nelson Semedo missed the league match against Feirense but will return on Wednesday, per WhoScored.com.

Possible Dortmund XI: Roman Burki, Marc Bartra, Sokratis, Matthias Ginter, Raphael Guerreiro, Julian Weigl, Gonzalo Castro, Lukasz Piszczek, Christian Pulisic, Ousmane Dembele, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Possible Benfica XI: Ederson Moraes, Nelson Semedo, Luisao, Victor Lindelof, Eliseu, Andreas Samaris, Pizzi, Andrija Zivkovic, Andre Carrillo, Rafa, Kostas Mitroglou

Preview

Reus' injury in the win over Leverkusen was the latest setback in a long line for Dortmund, who are expected to go into Wednesday's match with an attack spearheaded by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and several youngsters.

Per Boris Rupert of the club's official website, manager Thomas Tuchel admitted Reus' loss was a huge one: "It's a real blow, as over the last few weeks and in particular in the opening stages today [Sunday], which I felt were somewhat sluggish, Marco was the one who consistently got us going, who took the responsibility, who was alert."

The likes of Christian Pulisic and Ousmane Dembele have impressed in the Bundesliga this season, but asking them to play a key role in a major Champions League match is a whole other matter. 

Dortmund haven't been overly reliant on their biggest stars this season, a point that was made clear against Leverkusen, per ESPN FC's Stefan Buczko:

Dortmund roll on with superb team performance vs. Leverkusen https://t.co/25FPMfDuEq

— Stefan Buczko (@StefanBuczko) March 4, 2017

But in the Champions League, elite veteran talent often makes the difference, and Benfica have those types of players. Kostas Mitroglou has been in excellent form, and he'll be one player to keep an eye on.

Benfica are on an impressive win streak that started early in February, and momentum lies with the visitors. They haven't been tested much in that span, apart from the encounter with the Germans at the Estadio da Luz.

Their numbers this season have been impressive, but almost all of their losses have come away from home. The Signal Iduna Park is one of the loudest stadiums on the continent and gives Dortmund a huge boost whenever they play―Benfica's struggles away from home could be exposed if Tuchel's troops play their cards right.

Prediction: BVB 3-1 Benfica

Borussia Dortmund forward Marco Reus was forced to withdraw from his side's clash with Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday after picking up an injury.

BVB revealed the knock through their official Twitter account, cursing the fact that Reus wasn't fit to play any further part in the game: 

😩 Mist! Für @woodyinho geht es nicht weiter... // Damn! Marco Reus has to be subbed. #bvbb04 2-0 pic.twitter.com/kSgkvmsjtE

— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) March 4, 2017

After the match, Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel told reporters Reus would miss the team's Champions League round-of-16 encounter with Benfica on March 8. 

The Germany international was forced to leave the field just before half-time in the Bundesliga clash, with Dortmund 2-0 up and looking good to keep the pressure on the top two in the table.

As Fox Soccer revealed, Christian Pulisic replaced the stricken German in the match and could well continue to deputise for him over the coming weeks.

Christian Pulisic is on for Dortmund, subbing in for the injured Marco Reus just before halftime. #BVBB04

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 4, 2017

For the BVB star, any kind of layoff represents a major blow. Reus is a world-class talent and one of the most multifaceted forward players in Europe, but injuries have prevented him from kicking on at the Westfalenstadion to become one of the world's best.

When on the field, Reus brings an incision and inventiveness to Dortmund's play. He's quick on the ball, capable of playing neat passes into feet or firing off ferocious shots at goal. 

Dortmund at least have a clutch of attacking talent to step in. Andre Schurrle and Ousmane Dembele are each adept at filling in on either flank, while the likes of Pulisic, Shinji Kagawa and Emre Mor are also gifted creators.

While Reus' perennial injury issues mean Dortmund have had to become used to him being absent, manager Thomas Tuchel will be aware that his side are a much stronger force when he's prowling up and down the left flank.

All those tied to the Westfalenstadion club will be hoping Reus can recover from this latest blow and embark on a prolonged spell in the side that's free of injury issues.  

Borussia Dortmund playmaker Mario Gotze is set to remain on the sidelines after an investigation into his recurring muscular problems uncovered "the player has metabolic disturbances."

Per the Bundesliga side's official website, the 24-year-old, who has not played since January 29, has been withdrawn from training "for the time being," with no specific date set for his return.

BREAKING: Borussia Dortmund confirm Mario Gotze is out indefinitely after being diagnosed with a ‘metabolic disorder' pic.twitter.com/4yOnrkLYoB

— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 27, 2017

The Germany international returned to Dortmund last summer after a frustrating three-year spell at Bayern Munich and has made 11 Bundesliga appearances in 2016-17, netting one goal and providing one assist, per WhoScored.com.

Per BVB's statement, Gotze said: "I'm currently undergoing treatment and will do everything in my power to be back in training and helping my team to achieve our common goals as soon as possible."

It is another blow for the versatile attacker, whose career has stalled somewhat since his initial emergence at Dortmund under former manager Jurgen Klopp.

Gotze scored an extra-time winner for Germany in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final against Argentina. However, he never really found his place at Bayern and was used only sparsely by then-manager Pep Guardiola at the Allianz Arena in 2015-16.

His return to BVB should have been the opportunity for Gotze to once again flourish, but he has struggled in an injury-plagued first campaign back at Signal Iduna Park.

And now he is set to spend further time on the sidelines. Per Dortmund, club sporting director Michael Zorc put a positive spin on the news: "We're happy to have now uncovered the reasons for Mario's difficulties and are convinced that his extraordinary abilities will give us additional quality once he has completely recovered from this."

The Dortmund hierarchy and manager Thomas Tuchel will be eager to see Gotze recover to full fitness and sharpness as soon as possible. 

Benfica stunned Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 as the hosts won 1-0 in the first leg at the Estadio da Luz on Tuesday.

Konstantinos Mitroglou struck for Benfica shortly after the restart for the second half, with the Eagles scoring against the run of play.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had an awful night in front of goal for BVB, missing several great chances and capping his night off with a missed penalty in the second half—leading to his immediate and acrimonious substitution.

The visitors dominated for large periods of the game but could not find the back of the net as they became more desperate with every passing attack.

Benfica made two changes from their recent victory over Arouca, with Eduardo Salvio and Rafa Silva drafted into the side to replace Andrija Zivkovic and Jonas.

Dortmund made four changes after their defeat to Darmstadt 98. Lukasz Piszczek, Marcel Schmelzer, Ousmane Dembele and Marc Bartra were all recalled for the trip to Portugal.

The German team's official Twitter feed provided the scenes from the stadium at kick-off:

👌 Nice one, @slbenfica_en! #slbbvb pic.twitter.com/Vr4wJINGvf

— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) February 14, 2017

BVB were on the front foot from the opening minutes, applying pressure to the hosts' fragile-looking defence.

Dembele was mobile and troublesome in the final third as Marco Reus facilitated a bright start for the Bundesliga outfit.

Benfica were subdued and pegged back as the German side controlled territory and the flow of the match, and the hosts were ineffective in midfield.

The Eagles packed themselves behind the ball as they tried to play on the counter-attack, and the whistles from the crowd suggested Portuguese fans were not happy with the conservative approach of their side.

The game remained narrow throughout the first half, with Dembele not providing the width he was expected to create.

Aubameyang was guilty of spurning two chances as he missed the target, with BVB pushing hard for the opener.

However, the deadlock remained intact as the referee blew the whistle for half-time, but only the visitors had come close to finding the net.

WhoScored.com provided the vital stats during the interval, with BVB superior in possession:

Benfica 0-0 Dortmund HT: Shots (OT) 3(0)-4(0), Possession 33%-67%, Tackles 4-14, Rating 6.46-6.49 https://t.co/o4bJrrTyv9 #SLBBVB #UCL

— WhoScored (@WhoScored) February 14, 2017

The Champions League's official Twitter feed highlighted an unwanted milestone for the German side:

✋ For the first time in 21 European games, Dortmund go into half-time drawing 0-0... #UCL pic.twitter.com/H2mfB1Qq3P

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 14, 2017

Benfica appeared a different side at the start of the second half and stung their opponents with a shock goal from a corner routine.

Mitroglou stole in as the Dortmund defence failed to defend the set piece, leaving the Greece international to score from close range three minutes after the restart.

Dortmund immediately turned the screw as Aubameyang missed a golden opportunity, but their endeavour was rewarded as the visitors earned a penalty.

Ljubomir Fejsa was adjudged to have handled the ball, allowing Aubameyang to step up for a spot-kick.

However, the prolific striker's bad night continued as he struck a poor effort straight at goalkeeper Ederson, who didn't have to move to make the save.

Sports presenter Lucy Zelic was stunned by the player's weak shot:

Aubameyang. What is happening?!? 👀#BENBVB #UCL

— Lucy Zelić (@LucyZelic) February 14, 2017

BT Sport's Archie Rhind-Tutt had some advice for the BVB attacker:

Perhaps before talking about a move away from Dortmund, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang might want to tuck away a few more chances for them first?

— Archie Rhind-Tutt (@archiert1) February 14, 2017

Aubameyang was soon hauled off by manager Thomas Tuchel, substituted with his head in his hands after a night to forget.

BVB desperately tried to make things happen as Reus twice tested the Benfica defence, but the hosts became more confident as they focused on protecting their unexpected lead.

The Germans began to play a more direct style in the final moments as they chased the result, but the game had become stretched, benefiting the motivated Eagles.

Ederson was the hero once again in the final moments as he kept the ball out of his net with a couple of excellent saves.

The ball wouldn't roll kindly for Tuchel's men in the final moments, and the Germans will feel they were architects of their own downfall after missing so many chances.

     

Post-Match Reaction

Mitroglou thanked the supporters for their role in Tuesday's win:

Huge team effort, once more great support by the fans, very, very important win tonight! Well done to everyone! @SLBenfica #CarregaBenfica pic.twitter.com/5ljR45hn7a

— Kostas Mitroglou (@kmitroglou) February 14, 2017

Benfica manager Rui Vitoria knows the club's job isn't done after the first leg.

"We know what we have to do in the second leg," he said, per Benfica's English language Twitter account. "Even having won, we know we can improve."

Tuchel attempted to find the silver lining.

"It is an extremely complicated result, but I am very proud of how we played tonight," he said, per ESPN FC. "Even though I am very disappointed, I am proud of how we presented ourselves. I don't think we played well, I think we played outstandingly. That's only possible in football, to play this well and to still lose."