The Revierderby, the most acclaimed derby in the world

• Borrusia Dortmund will host Schalke at the Signal Iduna Park in a match that is widely regarded as the ‘mother of all Derbies in Europe’
• Borrusia Dortmund has won 8 Bundesliga titles one more than their rivals.

With limited games in the English Premier League, this weekend following the death of Queen Elizabeth II all eyes today will shift to Germany’s Bundesliga to witness one of the most iconic football derbies in the world.

After suffering a late Champions League defeat at the hands of Manchester City on Wednesday, September 14, Borrusia Dortmund Will be looking to redeem themselves in the League as they host long-term arch-rivals Schalke.

Famously known as the Revierderby, the encounter brings together Borrusia Dortmund and Schalke 04 teams which are located less than 20 miles. Schalke is located in Ruhr while Borrusia is in Dortmund.

This season Borrusia Dortmund has lost two games and is sitting in sixth place after six games while Schalke who sits at 13th place in the Bundesliga has only lost one game and won one.

The fans of these two clubs have widely been revered as the most passionate football fans in the world and that makes it even more beautiful.

According to Bundesliga.com, as opposed to other derbies around the world Revierderby is one of a kind, you are either Black and yellow or Royal Blue there’s no middle ground.

The Revierderby is regarded as one of the fiercest derbies in the world, it has produced moments that surpass the game, and the passion that comes with the fans in the stands is worth more than football.

Not once, but many times the relationship between the two sides of the fanbases has been tested, They have always been at loggerheads and tensed leading to unfortunate events.

Dubbed the mother of all derbies in Europe, Revierderby fans don’t mention their rivals by the name Borrusia Dortmund fans call Schalke ‘Herne-West.’ while Schalke calls Borrusia as ‘Lüdenscheid-Nord,

Rivalry

Schalke will travel to Dortmund today where they will be visitors to Borrusia Dortmund at the signal Iduna Park. This will be their ninety-nine Bundesliga match between these two fierce German rivals.

Dortmund and Schalke players in altercation; Photo/Khel

Both sides have had good statistics against each other although Borrusia holds the record for the most head-to-head win, Schalke dominated them in the recent games duplicating their 1990’s form where they always ran riot against Dortmund.

In the genesis of this derby, Schalke won 4-2 against their rivals Dortmund in 1925 which marked the start of a long rivalry.

Years later after undergoing a massive rebuild that included the squad, and the managerial system, Borrusia Dortmund’s long urge to bring an end to the superiority of Schalke finally was realized and since then it’s been unpredictable who wins.

Memorable Moments

Schalke set a tone of dominance in 1925 through the 1940s but it no long Dortmund back on stage. Although it is unimaginable now from Dortmund fans, Schalke did beat Dortmund 7-0 at home on three occasions and suffered 9-0 and 10-0 losses giving their rivals further bragging rights.

In the 1946/47 season during the Westfalenliga final Borrusia Dortmund humiliated Schalke 3-2 in a match that would then bring to an end the dominance of Schalke in the Western Germany competition.

Dortmund has won more titles than Schalke; Photo/BVB Buzz

By the time German birthed its Top division named Bundesliga in 1963, Dortmund managed to win titles in the 1950s and 1960s managing three.

A new stage for the Rivals was now set and Schalke together with Dortmund continued with they truly turned on the competition.

One of the most tragic moments in this rivalry competition was in the 1969 fixture where around 40,000 football fans were watching. Football was stopped for a moment as police fought to contain the crowd that forced themselves into the field after Schalke took the lead against Dortmund events in which two Schalke players were reportedly bitten by the police dogs.

Titles

After Jurgen Klopp took over the reins at the Signal Iduna Park, he transformed the club’s style of play and this gave them an edge over their rivals Schalke. Klopp was a missing piece in the jigsaw puzzle in this team, although Borrusia Dortmund struggled at the hands of Schalke then they have eight titles while their rivals have seven.

With the status of once dominant club Schalke waning, Borrusia Dortmund is more lively and is hitting the ground running. Under the tutelage of Jurgen Klopp, the German Side won two Bundesliga titles while Schalke won their last League title in 1958.