Borussia Dortmund midfielder Mario Gotze has declared that the club's "special" supporters can help them overcome Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League tonight.

Jurgen Klopp's side hold a slight advantage over the Ukrainian champions in the last-16 tie following a 2-2 draw in Donetsk last month.

Gotze feels that Dortmund's fans deserve special praise for their passionate support and has admitted that the backing serves as extra motivation in big matches.

The 20-year-old told UEFA.com: "You can see how widespread the fans are around Germany.

"It's great to see that there are Dortmund fans in every stadium. That is something that motivates you and in the end you look forward to games even more, especially Europa League or Champions League away matches, when you see how many fans follow us.

"I think it is something very special."

Victory over Shakhtar this evening will ensure Dortmund reach the quarter-finals of Europe's elite club competition for the first time since 1998.