Reus misses win over Wolfsburg for birth of first child

Reus' girlfriend was due to go into labour during the coming week, but the couple's first child was clearly eager to be born in time to watch Der Klassiker next weekend, and Reus was duly given permission to be by her bedside in hospital rather than out on the field at Signal Iduna Park on Saturday.

Watch: All of Reus' goals in 2018/19 so far

Confirming Reus' absence on Saturday, Dortmund tweeted that there are "much more important things than football" and wished "the expectant family all the best!"

"It's absolutely overwhelming," said Reus in his first interview as a father. "I'm very happy. If you haven't experienced it then you can't imagine what it's like, but when you get to experience it first hand, when you see a little being come into the world, then the feelings just overwhelm you, it's unbelievable. We're very proud to be parents now. It's an amazing feeling. Everything still feels very new."

Reus has had a hand in 23 goals for Dortmund in 22 league outings this season, scoring 15 and assisting eight. While it was a blow for coach Lucien Favre to have to do without a key player in a Matchday 27 game they still managed to win, he could at least take solace from the fact Reus no longer risks having to miss the trip to title rivals Bayern Munich next Saturday.