You know the match means something to fans when they have shirts printed commemorating victories which sit dominantly in club histories.
The Revierderby has produced many a t-shirt as stars from across the world come to sample the fervent atmosphere of one of the most hotly contested matches in German football.
Robert Lewandowski, Mr Real Madrid; Raul, Liverpool savior Jurgen Klopp and the understated Paul Lambert have all put their mark on the game (Lambert faired a little better than Klopp, winning two of his three Revierderbies whilst Klopp came away with five wins, five losses and four draws in his seven years managing the BlackYellows).
Swings and roundabouts in football saw Schalke begin as the dominant force in the derby, winning all three of the opening set of matches including a 4-2 victory in the first encounter back in 1925.
-Match report: BVB humble Schalke 3-0 in Revierderby
Dortmund have pulled things back in their favour, being the dominant force in the modern age and favourites for Saturday’s encounter.
Lucien Favre’s side, graced with the talent of Haaland, Sancho, Bellingham et al, are expected to be the main challengers to Bayern Munich in the race for the “salad bowl” (Meisterschale) this year, whilst Schalke go through a rather sticky patch. The Miners have lost three of their opening four Bundesliga games and are already sitting on a goal difference of minus sixteen, partly courtesy of an eight-nil thumping by Bayern Munich on the opening day of the season.
But as is the cliché with football, in derbies, form goes out the window, and so it seems the case whenever these great sides of the Ruhr Region meet.
The teams can barley be separated by the width of a coin toss when it comes to the derby.
In the last nine Revierderbies, Schalke have won two, Borussia Dortmund have won two and five have been drawn, with Dortmund scoring just one more goal than their rivals; sixteen to fifteen.
The derby that caused trauma
It hurts to concede a league lead on the penultimate day of the season, but to concede that lead after losing to your closest rivals.
Schalke (having lead the league for almost three months) went into the penultimate round of the 2006/07 season one point ahead of challengers VFB Stuttgart, with Stuttgart away to Bochum and Die Königsblauen facing their old adversary Dortmund.
The BlackYellows inflicted a two-nil defeat on their neighbours led by a front-line of Alex Frei and Ebi Smolarek, fed by former Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar.
Stuttgart beat Bochum 3-2 to leapfrog Schalke into top spot and went on to win the title on the last day of the season.
Dortmund were so delighted with the result they printed shirts to mark the occasion – even though on the whole it was a disappointing season for the BlackYellows, finishing ninth in the league.
Let’s hope there’s enough fireworks in the match on Saturday to see more t-shirts printed celebrating the exploits of these two old rivals.
Player to look out for: Erling Braut Haaland
When Haaland is on it he is unstoppable. The Real Madrid target who, at the time of switching to Signal Aduna Park turned down the advances of Man Utd and fellow compatriot Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, isn’t so much a revelation as an earth shattering beast upfront. Haaland’s tall, gangly frame combined with his surprisingly quick feet make him a nightmare for defenders to face, whether with their back to goal or trying to chase Haaland back as he bears down and looks to swallow up the goal-mouth. If there’s goals, this man will be on the score sheet.
Prediction: 3-2 to Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke, Saturday 24th October, KO 1730
Harry Jamshid Reporter Sports Pages 