Pulisic, Caligiuri, Schürrle or Embolo - who would be YOUR Schalke/Dortmund dream team right winger?
Borussia Dortmund and Schalke treated the world to one of the greatest matches in Bundesliga history when the Royal Blues completed one of sport's greatest ever comebacks after being 4-0 down at half-time at the Signal Iduna Park. This week the arch-rivals meet for another Revierderby at the Veltins-Arena with the winner having one hand on second place. Ahead of Sunday's fixture, bundesliga.com is giving you the chance to vote for your Revierderby dream team. All 11 positions are up for grabs, and it's your votes that will determine the final combined Schalke-Dortmund XI, which we will present to you ahead of the big match. The four candidates for the right wing positon are: Daniel Caligiuri, Breel Embolo, Christian Pulisic and Andre Schürrle. Cast your votes in the poll below!
Schalke’s Caligiuri and Dortmund’s Pulisic have both staked a claim to be considered the chief creative force in their respective midfields this season. Caligiuri has definitely been one of the Royal Blues’ unsung heroes, chipping in with no fewer than five goals and seven assists in 28 outings. Having only missed one game, the 30-year-old has emerged as one of Domenico Tedesco’s most influential lieutenants, and his underrated performances have gone a long way towards putting Schalke on the brink of UEFA Champions League qualification.
As perhaps the most talented American player of his generation, Pulisic has been unable to sneak under the radar in quite the same way, but the 19-year-old has still been one of Dortmund’s standout performers in a topsy-turvy season. With four goals and five assists, he has had a hand in more goals than any other BVB player, while his excellent showing in the 3-0 win over Stuttgart was a timely reminder that he represents a bright future for the Black-and-Yellows.
Watch: Dortmund's wonderkid, Christian Pulisic
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Not unlike Dortmund teammate Mario Götze, Schürrle has been looking to rediscover his best form as he bids to join Germany at the FIFA World Cup this summer. Injuries have limited the 27-year-old to just 14 Bundesliga appearances this season, but he has nevertheless come up with a goal, four assists and an 80 per cent pass completion rate. Determined, like Götze, not to be remembered for that goal in the 2014 World Cup final, Schürrle has been steadily improving in recent weeks, and currently looks more likely to get the nod from Joachim Löw than his clubmate.
Meanwhile, it has been a long road back for Schalke’s Embolo after he suffered a broken ankle and multiple ligament tears against Augsburg in October 2016. The Switzerland international returned to action nearly a year later, in September 2017, and has been used sparingly by Tedesco, making just eight league starts. The 21-year-old has grabbed a couple of goals — against Eintracht Frankfurt and Hoffenheim — and will no doubt get a chance to star for Die Nati in Russia after scoring in their recent friendly win over Panama.