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Tottenham vs. Borussia Dortmund: 5 key match-ups

By Rucker Haringey

OPORTO, PORTUGAL - FEBRUARY 25: Dortmund's forward Aubameyang celebrates scoring Dortmund goal during the Champions League match between FC Porto and Borussia Dortmund for UEFA Europa League Round of 32: Second Leg at Estadio do Dragao on February, 2016 in Porto, Portugal. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images)
OPORTO, PORTUGAL - FEBRUARY 25: Dortmund's forward Aubameyang celebrates scoring Dortmund goal during the Champions League match between FC Porto and Borussia Dortmund for UEFA Europa League Round of 32: Second Leg at Estadio do Dragao on February, 2016 in Porto, Portugal. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images) /
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MOENCHENGLADBACH, GERMANY – JANUARY 23: Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Borussia Dortmund celebrates scoring the goal to the 0:2 during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund at Borussia-Park on January 23, 2016 in Moenchengladbach, Germany. (Photo by Alexandre Simoes/Borussia Dortmund/Getty Images)
MOENCHENGLADBACH, GERMANY – JANUARY 23: Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Borussia Dortmund celebrates scoring the goal to the 0:2 during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund at Borussia-Park on January 23, 2016 in Moenchengladbach, Germany. (Photo by Alexandre Simoes/Borussia Dortmund/Getty Images) /

5. Henrikh Mkhitaryan vs. Danny Rose/Ben Davies

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang might be leading Dortmund in goals, but there’s a real argument to be made that Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been their best attacker on the season. The Armenian wide man will be a nightmare for whichever left-back Mauricio Pochettino chooses to employ against him.

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You might be surprised to know that it’s Mkhitaryan, not Aubameyang who possesses the highest Dortmund Whoscored.com player rating on the season. His stellar mark of 7.94 in 21 appearances is almost half a point higher than Aubameyang’s 7.50. Both are excellent, but a gap that wide is not insignificant.

Rose, Davies, or some combination of the two will have to play up to their full potential to slow the Dortmund attack down. Mkhitaryan has contributed eight goals on the campaign, but Tottenham should be equally concerned with the nine assists he’s posted. He’s managed to unlock the Dortmund attack via both through balls and devastating crosses this season. The Tottenham left-backs cannot afford to give him even an inch of space if they want to keep him from giving his side a significant advantage.

The Dortmund star is also a willing contributor on the defensive side of the pitch as well. While Spurs will hope he has to expend more effort in defense, than in attack, he still has the ability to cancel out Rose and Davies when they have the ball as well. Tottenham cannot afford for that to happen, because if it does, their attack will lose the width it needs to be successful.

This is a match-up where Dortmund has a clear advantage. If Tottenham can somehow manage to neutralize it, they’ll have a significant advantage against the German giants.

Next: 4. Harry Kane vs. Roman Burki

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