TEAM NEWS: Gotze starts as Reus drops to the Dortmund bench

Sep 15, 2012 1:35:00 PM

The former Gladbach man has not been able to shake off a minor injury in time for the visit of Bayer Leverkusen, handing the 20-year-old his first start of the season

Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp has handed Mario Gotze his first club start of the season for the clash at Signal Iduna Park against Bayer Leverkusen.

Marco Reus makes way for the 20-year-old after picking up a minor injury while on international duty with Germany in midweek, and is only fit enough to take up a place on the bench.

Elsewhere, Dortmund are unchanged, with Kevin Grosskreutz keeping his place at left wing, despite his disappointing form this season, and Ilkay Gundogan and Sebastian Kehl continuing in the deep-lying midfield positions.

Sven Bender returns after missing the entire season thus far with a hernia problem, but has only made the bench.

Meanwhile, Jens Hegeler starts in midfield for Leverkusen somewhat surprisingly ahead of Simon Rolfes and Renato Augusto. Sven Bender's identical twin brother Lars completes the midfield trio.

Karim Bellarabi will have to make do with a place on the bench for the visitors, with Andre Schurrle, Gonzalo Castro and Stefan Kiessling forming a front three.

Summer signing Daniel Carvajal keeps his place at right-back after making a convincing start to his Leverkusen career since his move from Real Madrid.

DORTMUND (4-2-3-1): Weidenfeller; Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer; Gundogan, Kehl; Kuba, Gotze, Grosskreutz; Lewandowski

LEVERKUSEN (4-3-3): Leno; Carvajal, Wollscheid, Toprak, Kadlec; L. Bender, Reinartz, Hegeler; Castro, Kiessling, Schurrle

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