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Borussia Dortmund 3-2 Fortuna Dusseldorf: Three things we learned

By Brian Szlenk Straub

DORTMUND, GERMANY - MAY 11: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been digitally enhanced.) Scorer Christian Pulisic (2R) of Dortmund celebrates his team's first goal with Thomas Delaney (2L) and Lukasz Piszczek (L) of Dortmund during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Fortuna Düsseldorf at Signal Iduna Park on May 11, 2019 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Lukas Schulze/Bundesliga/DFL via Getty Images)
DORTMUND, GERMANY - MAY 11: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been digitally enhanced.) Scorer Christian Pulisic (2R) of Dortmund celebrates his team's first goal with Thomas Delaney (2L) and Lukasz Piszczek (L) of Dortmund during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Fortuna Düsseldorf at Signal Iduna Park on May 11, 2019 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Lukas Schulze/Bundesliga/DFL via Getty Images) /
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DORTMUND, GERMANY – MAY 11: Thomas Delaney of Borussia Dortmund celebrates scoring the goal to the 2:1 during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Fortuna Duesseldorf at the Signal Iduna Park on May 11, 2019 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Alexandre Simoes/Borussia Dortmund/Getty Images)
DORTMUND, GERMANY – MAY 11: Thomas Delaney of Borussia Dortmund celebrates scoring the goal to the 2:1 during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Fortuna Duesseldorf at the Signal Iduna Park on May 11, 2019 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Alexandre Simoes/Borussia Dortmund/Getty Images) /

What a season it has been for both Mario Götze and Thomas Delaney. For the latter, Delaney came to Dortmund with a price tag for 20 million euros hanging over his head, and questions being asked regarding whether or not he was worth the money Dortmund paid Bremen. With the season coming to an end, doubts still remain about his ability, especially going forward. But Delaney has been key to stability in Dortmund’s midfield, alongside Axel Witsel. He has provided the fight Dortmund have severely lacked in recent seasons, playing the role of a proper midfield destroyer, enforcing Dortmund’s dominance at the center of the park.

In this game however, Delaney’s major contribution was on the offensive side of things. Shortly after Düsseldorf leveler the score through Fink’s header, Delaney charged into the Düsseldorf box to receive a layoff from Götze. After having his initial effort blocked, he followed up with a shot that nestled the ball in the bottom left corner, restoring Dortmund’s lead. It would prove to be a pivotal goal, considering the scenes to come.

DORTMUND, GERMANY – MAY 11: Mario Gotze of Borussia Dortmund scores his team’s third goal during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Fortuna Duesseldorf at Signal Iduna Park on May 11, 2019 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images)
DORTMUND, GERMANY – MAY 11: Mario Gotze of Borussia Dortmund scores his team’s third goal during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Fortuna Duesseldorf at Signal Iduna Park on May 11, 2019 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images) /

For Götze, this season has been about redemption, and the player has proven to be critical to Dortmund finding themselves in the position they are currently, pushing Bayern Munich. Götze’s contribution came in stoppage time, as he took the ball down in the box after a deflected shot. He too found the bottom left corner, all but sealing the three points Dortmund needed to keep pace with the Bavarian giants into the final match day of the season. Götze’s strike took him to 7 goals on the season in the Bundesliga season, with 7 assists to match. Having battled back from his metabolical disorder, its safe to say that the prodigal son has truly come home.

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