90% Pass Success & 2 Take Ons: CL Young Player of the Week – Mario Gotze

Bayern Munich have continued their excellent form from last season into the first few months of this season. One of their new players, recruited from rivals Borussia Dortmund, is excelling at the reigning European champions. Mario Gotze has been in fine form this in Europe this season, scoring once and assisting once, too. His strong performance in Bayern’s 1-0 win over Viktoria Plzen means he is Squawka’s Champions League Young Player of the Week.

His team-mate, David Alaba, came second in Squawka’s Performance Score ranking for players aged under 21 this week. Gotze scored an impressive 67 points to Alaba’s 59.

Gotze’s passing was impressive, too, achieving a 90% success rate. Only Toni Kroos and Diego Contento reached a higher percentage. Of those completed passes, Gotze created three chances. All three were pull-backs to the edge of the penalty area, showing how often he got behind Plzen’s full-back.

The German youngster completed two out of four take ons; all four were attempted in the final third of the pitch.

His crossing was poor, though, only completing two out of six. But his defensive work was good, winning 67% of his duels and intercepting twice down the right-hand side inside his own half.

Gotze also won six free kicks for Bayern, all scattered around the pitch which showed his willingness to help out the team in defence.

He didn’t have a shot but his Performance Score was bettered only by Philipp Lahm, who was fantastic, so it shows how well he played.

Gotze has floated in and out of Bayern’s side so far this season but if he continues to play the way he has been, especially last night, there is no reason why he can’t become a main component of a fantastic Bayern Munich side.