Bundesliga
"Götze could be Dortmund's title-decider" - Effenberg
Mario Götze could be the man to bring the 2018/19 title to Borussia Dortmund if he steps into the shoes of Marco Reus, says Bayern Munich legend Stefan Effenberg.
Dortmund captain Reus has contributed to 24 of his team's 74 league goals this season, but will miss his club's next two matches — against Werder Bremen and Fortuna Düsseldorf — after being sent off in the Matchday 31 Revierderby defeat to Schalke.
Götze scored in the 4-2 loss that left Lucien Favre's men two points behind league leaders Bayern with three games remaining this season.
Watch: Götze under the tactical microscope
It was the second time Germany's 2014 FIFA World Cup final hero had found the net in as many league matches, taking him onto six goals and seven assists for the season.
With Reus now sidelined, Effenberg told t-online that Götze should be the focal point of Favre's attack, and that he has the talent to close the gap to his ex-club at the top of the table.
'An incredible story'
"He can decide the title and at the same time show two teams — his former club and his current one — that he's the boss again," said Effenberg of the 26-year-old, who spent a largely unhappy three-year spell at Bayern before returning to Dortmund in 2016.
"After all the doubts that there have been over him in the last few years, it would be an incredible story."
Effenberg added that Favre "should show total faith in him."
Dortmund's derby defeat on Saturday opened the door for Bayern, who played struggling Nuremberg 24 hours later.
Their surprise 1-1 draw with the relegation candidates kept the title race on the boil, though Effenberg, who won three Bundesliga titles in the second of his two spells at Bayern, still feels his former club has the edge in the sprint for the line.
"With Lewandowski, Gnabry or Coman, Bayern simply have more weapons than Dortmund. They have it in their own hands," the former Germany international, 50, said.