Goretzka slowly becoming a leader at Bayern
By Adam Schultz
Bayern Munich found themselves two goals down inside the first ten minutes in Der Klassiker on Saturday but thanks to a Leon Goretzka strike two minutes from time, Bayern’s blushes were spared.
While Robert Lewandowski will get all the plaudits for his hat-trick performance, another man who went about his business in the middle of the park with authority was Leon Gortezka. His tireless work ethic, passing, and goal-scoring ability have gone above levels even he thought were possible. His volley against Dortmund was top quality and gave his side the lead.
Goretzka’s strike was crucial for Bayern as not only did it essentially secure three points, but it also put the Bavarians back to the summit of the Bundesliga. It capped off yet another superb performance for the midfielder after he collected three assists in Bayern’s 5-1 win over FC Koln in the previous week.
It is not becoming apparent just how crucial Goretzka is to Bayern’s midfield and like his partner Joshua Kimmich, Leon is now starting to show everyone his leadership qualities. The engine room is always a critical part of winning any match and Goretzka came in second for the most duels and distance covered by a Bayern Munich player, only Kimmich bested Goretzka in both statistics against Dortmund. The German midfielder spoke to the club’s official site after the match.
"“Games against Dortmund are very special for me because of my past.”“Scoring the decisive goal in the final stage of the game as such would have only been better if the stadium had been full.”"
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After his side conceded the first two goals of the match, Goretzka almost made it his personal mission to drag his side back into the contest. It was clear that he was pushing himself to the absolute limit and even needed some medical treatment at one point.
It is that kind of willingness to do what is best for the team that makes Goretzka the unassuming leader of Bayern’s team alongside Kimmich in the center of the park.
The Bochum-born native was just about solely responsible for the league leaders getting a foothold in the game after their disastrous start.
It was Goretzka who helped his side take control of the match and ultimately dominate Dortmund as Bayern wore them down in the second half with Goretzka’s strike an exclamation point on another incredible performance.
Next. Player ratings from thrilling Der Klassiker at Allianz Arena. dark
He might not get the fanfare of a Robert Lewandowski or a Joshua Kimmich, but make no mistake, Leon Goretzka is making a claim as one of Bayern’s most important players. Die Roten should do everything possible to secure Leon Goretzka’s future as he has the potential to be the cornerstone of the long-term success at the club.