Schalke 04 vs Borussia Dortmund 08/12/18

08 December 2018

The 153rd Revierderby between Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund that shall take place at the Veltins Arena will see the visitors trying to break a five-game winless Bundesliga streak against the arch-rivals.

Having suffered three defeats while secured one win in their last five competitive games, the Royal Blues still struggle to find the right balance this season. However, they have racked up four wins in their previous five matches at home, scoring 11 while conceding five goals in the run. Inefficient and indifferent in attack and shaky at the back, Domenico Tedesco’s players are dealing with a negative -4 goal difference, having notched 14 while conceding 18 goals in the German top flight so far. Schalke’s main problem this season relates to their poor displays in the final third as the Miners failed to hit the back of the net six times in their opening 13 Bundesliga clashes, three times in six home meetings.

Meanwhile, the visitors are enjoying a remarkable Bundesliga campaign under the tutelage of Lucien Favre, sitting top of the table with a record of ten wins and three draws. Residing the only unbeaten German side, the Black and Yellows have secured four consecutive road victories, scoring 11 while conceding three goals in the process. With 37 goals bagged so far, BVB have by far the best goalscoring record in the German top tier, as they failed to find the back of the net just once this season. Only RB Leipzig (10) have shipped fewer goals that Borussia Dortmund (10) this term, with Favre’s players keeping a clean sheet five times in 13 Bundesliga meetings, three times in six matches away from home.

Provisional line-up – Schalke 04:

Gk: Fahrmann Defense: Salif Sane – Nastasic – Oczipka – Caligiuri Midfield: Rudy – Serdar – Schopf – Bentaleb Attack: Wright – Burgstaller

Provisional line-up – Borussia Dortmund:

Gk: Burki Defense: Toprak – Diallo – Piszczek – Hakimi Midfield: Delaney – Witsel – Gotze Attack: Sancho – Bruun Larsen – Reus