Reus makes Europe's soccer spies happy

Dortmund continues to shine in Europe despite poor Bundesliga form

Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City and Bayern Munich, for good reason, all kept a close eye on Borussia Dortmund's fourth Champions League match in Group D against Galatasaray in Istanbul on Tuesday.

Their special interest was bound up with one man that has special value for Dortmund now and maybe next season: 25-year-old striker Marco Reus.

Reus can leave Dortmund at the end of this season, a potential bonanza for the so-called big guns of European soccer. Meanwhile, Dortmund won its fourth match 4-1, leaving it on top of the group with a 100 percent record of 12 points and 13 goals (and only one conceded).

Reus did not disappoint his likely suitors in his 24th Champions League game as he scored the first goal (39th) in a match watched by 65,851 spectators.

It was his second goal in this year's Champions League. In the 2013-14 campaign, he scored five in nine games.

Against Galatasaray, Reus showed brilliant skills down the left flank and helped his team qualify for the last 16 earlier than ever before in club history. Sokratis (56th), Ciro Immobile (74th) and Semih Kaya's own-goal (86th) added to Dortmund's tally. Hakan Balta (70th) scored for Istanbul.

For Reus, things look bright as he can choose his next club and he has expressed a desire to play for a Champions League club next season. According to rumors, Manchester City offered him a yearly salary of up to 13 million euros. Bayern is said to have offered him at least the same sum. He is believed to be paid five million euros per season at Dortmund.

Reus is expected to leave Dortmund at the end of this season despite the fact the club has reached the last 16 for the third consecutive time. After missing out on the 2014 World Cup due to an injury, Reus said his priority was winning titles. On the international stage he has not won much. In the 2013 Champions League final Reus and Dortmund lost to Bayern Munich 2-1.

Playing for Manchester City, Barcelona, Real or Bayern would make his soccer life more satisfying. However, for the time being, Reus is trying to make his hometown, Dortmund, and his coach, Juergen Klopp, happy.

Against Galatasaray, more than in its first three games against Arsenal (2-0), Anderlecht (3-0) and then in Istanbul, Dortmund had to solve problems the team has failed to overcome in the Bundesliga. Klopp's team had to beat a side that basically parked the bus as Galatasaray used a solid 4-5-1 system with two players in the "double" six position in the center of midfield, leaving Dortmund little space for fast attacks.

The 1997 Champions League winner tried to get through using Reus down the left and Pierre-Erick Aubameyang on the right and Shinji Kagawa in the middle of its attack. Behind Reus, on the left in midfield, Armenian Hendrik Mkhitaryan was doing a good job playing the ball into space between Galatasaray's defense. Sven Bender had orders to do the same on the opposite side.

What has not worked well so far in the Bundesliga (seven defeats in 10 games) seems to be less of a problem in the Champions League. Dortmund has gained more points in four Champions League games than in 10 Bundesliga games. Galatasaray showed deficiencies at the back but Dortmund still had problems cracking its defense even though the German side had 58 percent of ball possession.

In the second half, as Galatasaray had to open its game, Dortmund found its groove with determination and speed. The Turkish club is bottom of the group and only has a minor chance of reaching the next round.

Before Dortmund's victory, Bayer Leverkusen had already made German soccer fans happy after winning its match in Group C against Zenit St. Petersburg 2-1. That kept Leverkusen top of the group with nine points.