Article

Gotze hails Dortmund improvement

22 November 2012 13:17

Midfielder Mario Gotze feels Borussia Dortmund rose to the challenge in the Champions League, after failing to make an impact last term.

The Bundesliga champions beat Ajax 4-1 at the Amsterdam Arena on Wednesday to secure top spot in Group D, and Gotze stressed the difference from last season was that they performed at the big moments this time around.

"The Champions League is a very big challenge, and you need to rise to the occasion. We managed to do that, we stood up at the decisive moments and were efficient. That's the difference from last season," Gotze told the UEFA website.

"We were drawn in a very difficult group, but we simply looked forward to the opponents and the matches. And you could see that we wanted to make up for last year. I think that we did very well in that sense.

"Whether it was against Real Madrid or Manchester City or here against Ajax, we produced a very good team performance, and we are delighted to finish top of the group. We are also looking forward to the upcoming games."

Borussia Dortmund will resume Bundesliga action on Saturday when they travel to Mainz.

Info

Ajax

W W W D W

1 - 4

Borussia Dortmund

L L D D L

Competition: UEFA Champions League
Date: 21 November 2012
Game week: 5
Kick-off: 20:45

Half-time: 0 - 3
Full-time: 1 - 4

Venue: Amsterdam ArenA (Amsterdam)
Attendance: 47500

Goals

	0 - 1	8' M. Reus (assist by M. Götze)
	0 - 2	36' M. Götze (assist by M. Hummels)
	0 - 3	41' R. Lewandowski
	0 - 4	67' R. Lewandowski (assist by M. Götze)
D. Hoesen 86' (assist by C. Eriksen)	1 - 4

Lineups

#	Player	Bookings
1	K. Vermeer
4	N. Moisander	84'
17	D. Blind
3	T. Alderweireld
24	R. van Rhijn
5	C. Poulsen
10	S. de Jong
6	E. Enoh	18'
8	C. Eriksen
21	D. Boerrigter
27	J. Lukoki
Coach: F. de Boer

#	Player	Bookings
1	R. Weidenfeller
15	M. Hummels
26	Ł. Piszczek
4	N. Subotić
29	M. Schmelzer
6	S. Bender
19	K. Großkreutz
8	I. Gündogan
10	M. Götze	36' 53'
9	R. Lewandowski	41' 67'
11	M. Reus	8'
Coach: J. Klopp

Substitutes

#	Player	Bookings
20	L. Schöne for C. Poulsen 46'
23	D. Hoesen for E. Enoh 64'	86'
39	V. Fischer for D. Boerrigter 73'
19	T. Sana
22	J. Cillessen
33	J. Veltman
35	M. Dijks

#	Player	Bookings
44	I. Perišić for S. Bender 63'
16	J. Błaszczykowski for M. Götze 70'
23	J. Schieber for M. Reus 79'
7	M. Leitner
20	M. Langerak
24	C. Löwe
27	Felipe Santana

Wednesday 19 June

12:29	Baldini appointed as Tottenham technical director
11:52	FA Cup final given end-of-season billing
10:47	Coyle´s Wigan tenure begins at Barnsley
10:16	Celtic to start with Ross County test
10:03	Pique advises Thiago to stay at Barcelona
10:00	Llambias resigns but Pardew vows to stay on
09:54	Lampard targets third World Cup
09:48	Zorc: De Bruyne is interested in Dortmund move
06:32	FIFA World Cup Qualifying Wrap: United States stay in charge
05:09	Neill, Schwarzer in the shop window
04:31	Osieck vindicated by super-sub Kennedy
04:06	Puyol set for further surgery
03:46	Ribery, Benzema trial adjourned
03:11	Bielsa, Santos talks fall through
02:55	Vilanova rues easy title run-in
02:36	Del Bosque defends Casillas´ inclusion
00:19	Lens leaves PSV for Dynamo Kiev

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22:55	FIFA World Cup Qualifying Wrap: Australia, Iran, South Korea qualify
20:58	Carroll passes West Ham medical
13:08	Maher agent denies Ajax deal
13:05	Newcastle confirm Kinnear appointment
12:49	Taylor ´really happy´ with Kinnear return
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12:25	Clarke happy with Reid commitment
12:03	Bittencourt signs for Hannover
11:22	Van Dijk keen on Celtic move
11:15	De Gea sets the bar high
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10:47	Hamburg a possibility for Santa Cruz
10:29	Rebelo: Protests will not harm Confederations Cup
10:27	Kinnear: We need another striker
07:48	Brazil-Mexico Preview: Selecao gunning for semi-final berth
03:41	Valcke: Brazil better for football tournaments
01:38	Tahiti trump Nigeria in celebration stakes

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23:12	FIFA Confederations Cup: Nigeria 6 Tahiti 1
21:13	Borini´s Napoli move unlikely
21:09	Remon: Zidane not ready for Real job
20:39	Elyounoussi says yes to Hoffenheim
20:37	Mignolet agent anticipating bids
20:35	Schalke signs Clemens
20:00	Italy-Japan Preview: Azzurri aiming to move closer to last four with victory
19:36	Sidwell looking for settled squad at Fulham
19:20	Hearts set to enter administration
19:16	Martinez hoping to bring ´characters´ to Everton
18:53	Scholes sad to see Robinson leave Stoke
18:36	Bayern, Barca in hunt for Koscielny
18:35	Toulouse deny Lyon approach for Tabanou
17:59	Vitoria pleased with ´dream´ Benfica move
17:43	Poyet refuses to attend hearing
17:33	UEFA Under 21 Championship Final Preview: Italy v Spain
17:23	Van Dijk attracting foreign interest
17:17	FIFA Confederations Cup Preview: Brazil v Mexico
16:54	Brentford confirm signing of Bidwell from Everton
16:20	Lambert says Lowton can still improve
16:14	Owen not ready to become a manager
16:11	Rangel praises Michu impact
15:52	Gundogan pledges future to Dortmund
15:45	Tevez refuses to be drawn on speculation
15:32	Mourinho: Chelsea need stability
14:33	Reid remains at West Brom after agreeing new deal
13:22	Tahiti 1-6 Nigeria: Oduamadi hits hat-trick as Super Eagles smash South Pacific islanders
13:11	Dortmund confirm Lewandowski stay
12:57	Hull sign Figueroa
12:55	Colombia Primera Division Wrap: Santa Fe held as Pasto, Millonarios win
11:59	Liverpool appoint new chief financial officer
11:47	Isco reveals offers from Real and City
11:09	Bradford to start Capital One Cup campaign at Huddersfield
10:09	Kinnear: Cabaye will stay at Newcastle
07:20	Peru Primera Division Wrap: Cesar Vallejo up to fourth
07:19	Paraguay Division Profesional Wrap: Nacional Asuncion beaten after securing title
06:47	Argentina Primera Division Wrap: Blanco brace fires Lanus
03:53	Ecuador Primera A Wrap: Independiente held despite Guerrero stunner
03:07	Del Bosque satisfied with Spain´s Cup opener
01:53	FIFA Confederations Cup: Spain 2 Uruguay 1
01:39	Prandelli undeterred by plucky Mexico
00:17	FIFA World Cup Qualifying Wrap: Ethopia, Egypt top groups

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