Bundesliga matchday 23 preview
February 26, 2015
Looking at the Bundesliga table, Borussia Dortmund are languishing and Schalke have hit a rut. A vital three points, as well as local bragging rights, are perhaps more important than ever in the 167th Ruhr derby this weekend.
"We've got to be clever with the space on the pitch. Schalke sit quite deep and then have good quality on the counter," said Jürgen Klopp in his press conference. "We know the problems, so we've got to finally show stability on the pitch. We've got to convert possession into goal scoring chances."
Dortmund have softened their struggles with three Bundesliga wins on the bounce, but their form in recent derbies with Schalke has been poor to say the least. Just one win in the last five meetings means the Royal Blues are the rulers of the region, as well as currently being 10 points clear in fourth. Thirty-one is the magic number for this game, however, with each side having notched up thirty wins in the derby's history.
After Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang compared winning the Ruhr derby to "an orgasm" this week, his Borussia Dortmund teammate Marco Reus told German newspaper ‘Bild’ losing at home to Schalke on Saturday is "forbidden".
Both sides struggled in the Champions League over the last two weeks, but are experiencing opposite spells of domestic form. BVB are looking resurgent, whilst Schalke need a boost.
In the last 10 years, more often than not it is the away team that has been victorious. Since 2005, more than half of the Ruhr derbies played (19) have been won by the visitors (9). Schalke will be hoping to go three games unbeaten in Dortmund on Saturday, after the winning 2-1 win back in 2012 was followed by a goalless draw last season. Dortmund will be keen to redeem themselves after an abysmal defensive display in the 2-1 defeat in Gelsenkirchen earlier this season.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who limped out of their loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League, will return from suspension for the game. "It's important for us that he is back," said Di Matteo ahead of the game. "He and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting have a good understanding. It can only help us."
The discovery of an unexploded bomb outside the Signal Iduna Park on Thursday morning prompted Klopp to say in his re-arranged pre-match press conference: "I hope there are no unexploded bombs in the stadium on Saturday."
Bremen host Wolfsburg
Sunday sees the Bundesliga's in-form sides face off as the comeback kids at Werder Bremen welcome Wolfsburg, who are riding high after progressing to the last 16 of the Europa League for only the second time in their history in midweek. Sebastian Prödl's last minute equalizer in Gelsenkirchen last weekend was Viktor Skripnik's side first draw in six games - the other five ended in victory.
Wolfsburg, who were drawn against Inter Milan in the Europa League last 16, have been tipped to win Europe's second biggest competition as their domestic form has seen their stock rise around Europe. The new power couple of Andre Schürrle and Kevin de Bruyne - who have been involved in six goals in their three league outings together - will be a serious worry to the joint-leakiest defense in the Bundesliga this season.
Elsewhere on matchday 23, Bayer Leverkusen host Freiburg hoping to continue the form that saw them beat Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. Hoffenheim host Mainz, whilst struggling Stuttgart head to Hannover with both sides still looking for their first wins in 2015.
Eintracht Frankfurt face Hamburg in the late game on Saturday and in Sunday's other fixture, Borussia Mönchengladbach host Paderborn for the first time in a league fixture since 2007, with the Foals hoping to rebound from their midweek Europa League exit.
On Friday, Bayern Munich smashed Cologne 4-1 with Arjen Robben taking his league record to 17 goals for the season. Bastian Schweinsteiger, Franck Ribery and Robert Lewandowski chipped in with some goals, too.
But Manuel Neuer, again, was key in victory for Bayern - the Balon D'Or nominee pulled off a string of outstanding saves to prevent Cologne from equalizing in the second half after Anthony Ujah had cut the deficit before the interval.