As he prepares to add one more Klassiker to his collection, the current Die Schwarzgelben schemer – who previously made 73 Bundesliga appearances for the Bavarian giants – sat down with bundesliga.com to discuss Saturday’s monumental meeting.

bundesliga.com: How big a mental boost was last weekend’s dramatic 2-0 win against Wolfsburg?

Mario Götze: “First of all, you must find a way to win in that situation because we needed the three points, especially at home. I have to say, Wolfsburg played really well which made [the victory] even more special for us. It was similar in Berlin with a lucky punch for us at the end [BVB beat Hertha 3-2 on Matchday 26 thanks to Marco Reus’s injury-time winner]. That’s been a real feature of our game in the last matches and it’s good to know that we can be dangerous at all times.”

bundesliga.com: Do you feel you’ve got the momentum going into the game against Bayern?

Götze: “Winning these games is all part of it. That’s definitely been a feature this season and of how the season has developed and the quality we bring. Nevertheless, we’re aware that it’ll be a very different game in Munich with how things stand in the table right now. It will be special and definitely interesting. We know that we can be dangerous at all times but it’ll still be a very hard game for us.”

Watch: Mario Götze speaks exclusively to bundesliga.com on Der Klassiker!

bundesliga.com: What are your thoughts on how Bayern are faring at the moment?

Götze: “[I see them as doing] very positively. They’re competing in the DFB Cup [while] in the Champions League against Liverpool, there was no shame in going out in those circumstances. Of course, they’ve gone through some tough times this season but that’s a normal process which you have to go through. We know it’ll be difficult when we face them, especially in Munich. To be at the top of our game for 95 minutes and give 100 percent will be a very demanding challenge.”

bundesliga.com: What makes Bayern Munich such difficult opponents? 

Götze: “They have a lot of quality. There were times in recent years where we weren’t in the best shape going into games and that was reflected in the results, especially last season. That really hurt us in general in the Bundesliga. This time around, the situation is different. We’ve put [those recent memories] behind us. Now, everything is possible and we go into the game with a different feeling.”

bundesliga.com: Just how crucial is Saturday’s Klassiker and do you now feel you can beat Bayern to the title?

Götze: “Personally, I do see it as an important game but it won’t be a decisive one. There are seven important games to go. We’re yet to play in Gladbach, for example. We still have to play Schalke at home too. We’re away in Freiburg, who recently drew 1-1 with Bayern. Saturday’s Klassiker will be an important match generally in terms of our confidence and our mental strength and so on. The right result can give us a push but there are seven games left and you really saw how hard it was in the last two games where we got the three points in the last minute. We realise Saturday will be important but the whole remaining period will be decisive. There are a full six weeks where we will have to give 100 percent in every game.”

Watch: Paco Alcacer snatched a 3-2 win for Dortmund in the reverse fixture

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bundesliga.com: Tell us about Dortmund’s ability to turn games around this season compared to previous years.

Götze: “There’s been a bit of luck involved but there’s also belief, like against Bayer Leverkusen when we were 2-0 down. It was similar in the first game against Leipzig. There have been situations where we came from behind in games and have been lucky to win or just winning by 1-0. We do have that bit of fortune on our side. But we have also been unlucky in games. In Augsburg, for example, or against Nuremberg where we dropped points. It’s a mix of everything but overall it’s been more positive in terms of the number of points we’ve picked up. Those positive aspects are great, of course, and they give us a good feeling.”

bundesliga.com:  On a personal note, how are you feeling at the moment?

Götze: “Very well. It was tough at the beginning in terms of my development but then those back-to-back home wins against Atletico Madrid [2-0] and Bayern [3-2] earlier in the season made things feel very good. The season has developed very positively from there and it has mirrored my own situation.”

bundesliga.com: Do you feel you are playing better now than in the recent past?

Götze: “Yes, of course. Playing and scoring goals is a lot easier than in recent years. For me it’s important when the team is functioning well, when everything around is going well; that makes it easier for all of us as players and for me personally. That has a positive impact on my performances and on how I feel overall.”

Once described by Franz Beckenbauer as Borussia Dortmund's answer to Andres Iniesta and Lionel messi, Mario Götze (l.) and Marco Reus (r.) are enjoying their football again. - 2018 Getty Images

bundesliga.com: Have you managed to get Marco Reus a gift after he became a father?

Götze: “No, not yet. We wanted to wait and see his reaction and how he was when he returned. It all went well, that’s the important thing.”

bundesliga.com: Back to Saturday’s Klassiker – how important is home advantage for Bayern?

Götze: “When we hosted the game in the first half of the season we went behind but turned it around. Being at home gives you that extra push. Nevertheless, it’s important to remember that away from home we also have quality and we’re always dangerous up until the 95th minute. We know our strengths and the quality we bring.”