INTRODUCTION
The Revierderby is forthcoming and Dortmund are struggling this year. They got their manager Farve sacked a few months back. The assistant manager took over as interim coach. under his leadership to they are struggling. Whilst this might seem like an easy win for the Black and Yellow, especially with Schalke being bottom of the Bundesliga, form goes out the window in derbies, especially with this fiery fixture being one of the biggest in Europe. Both teams have been in poor form of late. Dortmund sits sixth- poor for their standards. But at least they’re not rock bottom in 18th place, on just nine points, like Schalke are. The last meeting between these two clubs was the first match in the Bundesliga after the enforced COVID-19 break, with Dortmund winning 4-0, and neither team will want to lose it here.
Recent Form
Dortmund hasn’t had an easy February so far. Despite beating Sevilla 3-2 in the UEFA Champions League, they drew 2-2 to Hoffenheim- at the Signal Iduna Park. This was a week after their surprising 2-1 defeat to SC Freiburg.
Similarly, Schalke hasn’t won in any German competition this month. The Royal Blues are winless since their only win on 9th January- THAT game against Hoffenheim. Having endured a bore draw against Union Berlin just ten days after being knocked out of the DFB Pokal Cup by Wolfsburg, Mustafi’s new club need to get points. and fast, since they’re rooted at the foot of the Bundesliga. What better place to start a great escape than against your biggest rivals?
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Team News
Schalke
Schalke lacks quite a few players due to injury. Gross’s side misses Sane, Paciencia, and Skrzybski due to knee injuries, as well as Ludewig, Ronnow, and veteran Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. Mark Uth’s thigh means that he is a doubt for the derby.
Predicted line-up
GK- Fährmann
DEFENCE- Becker Mustafi Thiaw Kolasinac
CDM-Stambouli Bentaleb
WINGS- William, Serdar, Harit
FOWARD-Hoppe
Dortmund
The Black and Yellow have a few uncertainties. There are question marks around Thorgan Hazard’s thighs, as well as Zagadou and Piszczek. Meanwhile, Schmelzer and Witsel are definite absentees due to their knee and Achilles, respectively.
Predicted line-up
GK- Burki
DEFENCE- Geurreiro Hummels Akanji Meunier
CDMS- Delaney Bellingham
WINGS- Reyna Reus Sancho
FOWARD- Halaand
Head to Head
This will be the 98th Revierderby since the start of the Bundesliga era. Schalke has won 32, with Dortmund winning 35.
Players to watch
Erling Halaand
The 2020 Golden Boy winner, still aged 20, sits third in the Bundesliga scoring charts with 15 goals. Only Lewandowski (25) and Andre Silva (18) have more than the Leeds-born Norweigan. He has as many goals this season as the entire Schalke squad, and fresh from his midweek antics against Sevilla in the Champions League, can he add even more to his tally?
Marco Reus
The German playmaker with a similar name to his possible new manager, the 31-year-old academy product knows what this fixture means. Dortmund has won this fixture 54 times out of 157. Can their record assister make it 55? On what will be his 300th game for Dortmund, he’ll no doubt want it to be a memorable one.
Amine Harit
In an extremely disappointing campaign so far in with only one win under Schalke’s belt, the Moroccan playmaker Amine Harit has been the only shining light this season at the Veltins Arena. He put in a man-of-the-match display in their only win- a shock 4-0 thumping over Hoffenheim. If Schalke stands any chance at all, Harit will need to bring his A-Game.
Conclusion
One win. All season. Can Schalke get a second and boost their hopes of survival? Or will the attacking threat of Sancho, Thorgan Hazard, and Halaand leave Die Knappen holding on for dear life at the foot of the table?
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