Reyna's Back-Heel Assist

Midfielder Notched his First Assist of the Season in Champions League Victory

Gio Reyna impacted Borussia Dortmund's 3-1 Champions League victory over Shakhtar Donetsk, providing a moment of brilliance with his fifth career Champions League assist. Coming off the bench in the 64th minute to replace Julian Brandt, the 22-year-old American midfielder helped secure Dortmund's victory with an ingenious piece of skill in the 79th minute.

The highlight came when Reyna connected with Ramy Bensebaini in a clever give-and-go sequence. Despite being pressured by two Shakhtar defenders, Reyna showed exceptional composure. He used his first touch to create space before delivering a perfectly weighted back-heel pass that found Bensebaini's continued run into the box. The defender finished the move to seal the victory and secure Dortmund's position as the 10th seed in the Champions League's new format.

This performance comes at a conflicting time in Reyna's career at Dortmund. After missing the early part of the season with a groin strain, he has gradually worked his way back into the team's plans, appearing in 12 of their last 13 matches. However, with only three starts this season and 351 minutes of total playing time, questions remain about his role at the club. While transfer rumors linking him to AC Milan have cooled, the appointment of new manager Niko Kovac, who will take charge after Sunday's Bundesliga match against Heidenheim, could represent a fresh opportunity for Reyna to establish himself as a regular starter. The immediate future holds a Champions League playoff matchup against either Sporting CP or Club Brugge, where Reyna hopes to continue making an impact and proving his worth to the new manager.