Mario Gotze ruled out of Champions League final
Borussia Dortmund midfielder will miss final game for the club before he moves to Saturday's opponents Bayern Munich
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Borussia Dortmund have confirmed Mario Gotze will miss the Champions League final against Bayern Munich at Wembley on Saturday.
The 20-year-old attacking midfielder has lost his battle to be fit for what would have been his last game for the club ahead of his 37million euros (£31.5million) summer move to Bayern.
Gotze suffered a hamstring injury in the semi-final second-leg against Real Madrid and suffered a setback in his recovery when he had to cut short his first training session back with the team yesterday afternoon.
Gotze said in a statement on Dortmund's official website: "The final was my big goal and in the past weeks I have battled hard for it.
"I am unbelievably sorry that I will not be able to help the team in this important match.
"I have huge belief in our team and will naturally travel with them to London to endeavour to support the lads off the pitch."
Gotze's absence is a huge blow to Jurgen Klopp's side's mission to upset the odds against the Bundesliga champions in London.
The Germany international was, along with Marco Reus and Robert Lewandowski, part of perhaps the most feared attacking triumvirate in European football currently and integral to Dortmund's attacking style.
Kevin Grosskreutz was the man who replaced Gotze at the Bernabeu and would appear to be the most likely candidate to stand in for him at Wembley.
PA
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