Combined Dortmund and Bayern XI: Does Gotze make the cut?

Bayern Munich face Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park on today, in what should be a passionate and spirited encounter centred on rivalry and revenge. Dortmund, still seething over their Champions League final defeat, will hope to put a dent in Bayern’s early title ambitions. Whereas the visitors, under the guidance of Pep Guardiola, will look to exact retribution over their 4-2 DFL-Supercup loss at the same stadium on 27 July. Plenty to play for then. And plenty of reasons to construct a Dortmund/Bayern fantasy XI. Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer The German shot-stopper is widely regarded as the greatest goalkeeper in Europe at present, with his impressive form rightfully earning him a place on the Ballon d’Or shortlist. Manuel Neuer has achieved a Performance Score of 444 in the German Bundesliga, conceding the fewest goals (7) after the opening 12 matches, aided by an impressive six clean sheets. Right-Back: Kevin Großkreutz Kevin Großkreutz has certainly taken his chance in the Dortmund team following ?ukasz Piszczek’s troublesome hip-injury. Only three Dortmund players have created more goal-scoring chances (20) than the 25-year-old, with a notable 60% fashioned from the zone to the right of the opposition’s penalty area, demonstrating what an effective wing-back Großkreutz can be. Centre-Back: Dante At 30 years of age, you could say that the former Standard Liège defender is something of a late bloomer within European football. In fact, Dante has only been playing within Europe’s elite leagues for the last five years. Nevertheless, the Brazil international has impressed fans and pundits alike, and can claim to be the second most accurate passer (91%) of any Bayern player to have featured in 10 games or more this season – Bastian Schweinsteiger leads the way with 92%. Centre-Back: Mats Hummels Product of the Bayern youth team, Mats Hummels is the most creative central defender at Dortmund, producing nine goalscoring chances in 10 appearances this season – more than Polish captain and club team-mate, Jakub B?aszczykowski (8). The 24-year-old is often criticised for his impulsive decision making, most recently picking up a red card in his side’s 2-0 loss to Borussia Mönchengladbach on 5 October. Having said that, Hummels remains a fine footballer; a key component in starting attacking moves from the back. Left-Back: David Alaba Many people praise the possession football. Many people praise Bayern’s intense pressing, hassling opponents into submission. While many others praise the increased work rate from Franck Ribéry and Arjen Robben. However, in my opinion, the most interesting tactical tweak from Guardiola has been the implementation of David Alaba as an inverted full-back – somewhat Bielsista in style. Alaba is yet to be on the losing side in this season’s Bundesliga, contributing with 90% pass accuracy, 65% tackle success and 85% dribble success.

Central-Midfield: Philipp Lahm “For almost ten years, Philipp Lahm has provided consistency, reliability and the highest standard in the national side,” said Germany coach Joachim Löw, according to UEFA.com. “He has a natural authority, takes on responsibility, is communicative and is an absolute leader.” High praise indeed, and rightly so. Lahm is Bayern’s joint second most creative player in the Champions League this season, creating nine chances from a variety of midfield positions – such is his versatility under new manager Guardiola, who uses the 30-year-old’s intelligence to great effect throughout central zones. With two World Cup third-place finishes to his name, can Lahm go one better in Brazil?

Centre-Midfield: Nuri ?ahinAfter his move to Real Madrid in 2011, which stifled his first-team development somewhat, Nuri ?ahin is enjoying life again on loan at Dortmund under Jürgen Klopp. Only Hummels (32) has made more interceptions than ?ahin (26) for Dortmund in the Bundesliga this season, protecting the back four alongside Sven Bender. Furthermore, his Performance Score of 311 is the third highest total at the club, highlighting what an important role he plays for the team.

Attacking-Right: Marco Reus Marco Reus scored twice in Dortmund’s German Super Cup win over Bayern, and the tricky winger will look to be equally as potent in front of goal on Saturday. The tricky winger is by far the most inventive player at the club this season, creating 38 goalscoring chances (including five assists), scoring seven goals, and beating his opposite man 30 times in only 12 appearances. Attacking-Midfield: Toni Kroos Having impressed on loan at Bayer Leverkusen throughout the 2009-10 campaign, Toni Kroos has since established himself as a regular in Bayern’s first-team. By linking play intelligently throughout transitions with 91% pass accuracy, and threating in the attacking third by dribbling past his opposite man 17 times from an attempted 20, Kroos has become the backbone to Guardiola’s future tactical plans.

Attacking-Left: Franck Ribéry Bayern’s inventive attacker has successfully dribbled past his marker more times (67) than any other player in the Bundesliga this season, with a success rate of 60%. The same can be said of Ribéry throughout the 2012-13 treble winning campaign, when the Frenchman surged past the opposition and into space 122 times – a total only beaten by Wolfsburg’s Diego (126). Jürgen Klopp will have to come up with a strategy to neutralise the attacking talents of Ribéry, or risk the potential Ballon d’Or winner running riot. Striker: Robert Lewandowski Last season’s accumulation of 23 league goals was only beaten by Stefan Kießling (24). And following on from that impressive statistic, Robert Lewandowski has grabbed a further nine goals in 12 appearances time around, boosting his reputation as one of Europe’s most feared and prolific strikers. If there’s one aspect of the former Lech Pozna? striker’s game that needs to be improved, then perhaps it’s his aerial ability, losing 65% of attempted headers in the Bundesliga this season.