Dortmund out to settle score in derby duel at Schalke

Fixtures (all fixtures 1330 GMT unless stated) Friday Wolfsburg v Augsburg (1830) Saturday Hoffenheim v Hamburg, Hertha Berlin v Cologne, Bayer Leverkusen v Eintracht Frankfurt, Stuttgart v Hanover 96, Bayern Munich v Borussia Moenchengladbach (1630) Sunday Schalke v Borussia Dortmund, Werder Bremen v RB Leipzig (1600) Monday Mainz v Freiburg (1830)

BERLIN, Germany: Borussia Dortmund head to neighbours Schalke for Sunday’s high-profile Bundesliga clash still smarting after their arch rivals came from four-goals down last time in the ‘Ruhr derby of the century’.

“We are really up for it, especially when you remember the home game,” said Dortmund’s sports director Michael Zorc before the 174th derby in Gelsenkirchen.

Dortmund are still sore after Schalke scored four unanswered second-half goals in a frenetic 4-4 draw at Borussia’s Signal Iduna Park last November.

Brazil defender Naldo dramatically equalised with a 94th-minute header just before the final whistle to cap a remarkable fight back.

“If the game had gone on a minute longer, we would have probably conceded the next goal,” admitted goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller after Dortmund’s defence collapsed.

“I was glad when the referee whistled, it was a relief for us. I came off feeling ashamed.”

The match was dubbed the ‘Ruhr derby of the century’ because no team had ever previously came from 4-0 down in the fixture’s 92year history.

Bragging rights aside, key Bundesliga points are up for grabs in Sunday’s derby.

Bayern Munich, the confirmed champions, are 20 points clear of Schalke in the table, but Dortmund are a point behind in third.

They can leap-frog the Royal Blues into second place with a win in Gelsenkirchen.

Schalke took second-place from Dortmund just over a month ago and tensions are running high between the clubs.

Only 36 kilometres (22 miles) separate them and police in Gelsenkirchen are on high alert with no love lost in one of European football’s fiercest derbies.

“This isn’t just a game like any other -- you can feel the tension,” said Schalke striker Guido Burgstaller.

For Dortmund, the goal is simple, “if we win, we move past Schalke” said midfielder Nuri Sahin.

The top game on Saturday sees Bayern host Borussia Moenchengladbach at the Allianz Arena with one eye on next Tuesday’s German Cup semi-final at Leverkusen.

Having reached the Champions League semi-finals in mid-week, Bayern are now the only European team left still in contention for the treble this season. - AFP