The 2022/23 German Bundesliga season continues this weekend and on the 17th of September we have the highly anticipated Revierderby between Borussia Dortmund and Schalke 04.
The hosts begin this round of fixtures in 5th place on 12 points while the visitors are in 12th place on 6 points.
Borussia Dortmund come into the match having suffered a 2-1 loss at Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Despite the defeat, Borussia Dortmund will still believe they can finish second in the group.
In terms of the Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund are aiming to return to winning ways having suffered a disappointing 3-0 loss at BR Leipzig last weekend.
Two of the goals were scored in the first half and RB Leipzig added a third goal in the 84th minute to take maximum points. That was the second defeat of the season in the Bundesliga for Borussia Dortmund having also lost 3-2 at home to Werder Bremen.
However, there have been 4 victories in the league for Borussia Dortmund this season, including home victories over Bayer Leverkusen and Hoffenheim, with both games ending 1-0. Away wins have come at Freiburg and Hertha Berlin.
Trends show when playing at home in the Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund have seen both teams score in 5 of their last 7 matches.
Schalke 04 travel to Signal Iduna Park on the back of a 3-1 home win over bottom of the table Bochum last weekend in the Bundesliga. With the score level at 1-1 in the second half, Schalke 04 took the lead in the 73rd minute and sealed the points with a third goal late in the game.
It was an important win for Schalke 04 as they had failed to pick up a victory in the Bundesliga prior to last weekend.
There have been draws with Borussia Monchengladbach at home plus Wolfsburg and Stuttgart away. Schalke 04 have suffered twodefeats this season, the first at FC Cologne and the second a heavy 6-1 defeat at home to Union Berlin.
Trends show Schalke 04 have been difficult to beat in recent matches and they are unbeaten in 13 of their last 16 games in all competitions.
They are undefeated in their last 2 away Bundesliga matches but have failed to win any of their last 31 away Bundesliga fixtures.
Team news and Borussia Dortmund have several players on the treatment table including Gregor Kobel, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Mateu Morey, Mahmoud Dahoud, and Sebastien Haller.
Schalke 04 have two players unavailable for the match, with defenders Cedric Brunner and Marcin Kaminski injured.
Borussia Dortmund will not want to lose further ground on the leaders but could find it difficult to beat Schalke 04.
The away team have a dreadful away record in terms of wins but could prove tough opposition in the derby and this one could end level, with under 2.5 goals scored.