5 of the very best Revierderby games from down the years
Every country has its own great footballing derbies, but they all pale in comparison to the Revierderby between Ruhr district neighbours Schalke and Borussia Dortmund.
A meeting between two regional rivals, both working-class to the bone, in the footballing heartland of Germany - there is no fixture like it in world football.
Ahead of Saturday's showdown, bundesliga.com cordially invites you to take a look back at some of the classic Ruhrpott rumbles from yesteryear, kicking off with last season's eight-goal slobberknocker at the Signal Iduna Park...
1) Dortmund 4-4 Schalke (25 November 2017)
An instant classic, this match summed up everything the Revierderby is about. Played at a frenetic, frantic pace, Dortmund fans were on cloud nine by half-time after goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mario Götze, Raphael Guerreiro and a Benjamin Stambouli own-goal had them four goals to the good. If that was hard to believe, the second-half was even more unimaginable as the hosts wilted under a remarkable Schalke comeback. Just after the hour mark Guido Burgstaller and Amine Harit pulled it back to 4-2 before Daniel Caligiuri set up a grandstand finish by making it 4-3 with less than five minutes to play. Naldo completed the incredible turnaround in dramatic fashion, heading home in the 94th minute to send the away support delirious.
Watch: Highlights of Schalke's storming comeback in Dortmund
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2) Dortmund 3-3 Schalke (13 September 2008)
A decade ago it was Schalke’s turn to throw away a seemingly comfortable lead, having to settle for a point when all three should have been wrapped up an hour into proceedings. Jefferson Farfan had given Schalke the lead before Rafinha and Heiko Westermann had the away side coasting. Jürgen Klopp's side weren't going to roll over, though, and Alexander Frei proved the difference for Dortmund, coming on in place of the injured Nelson Valdez at half-time. Frei would create his side's first for Neven Subotic before putting them on the brink of rescuing a draw with his 70th minute free-kick. The Swiss forward then held his nerve to slot home an 89th-minute penalty to deny Schalke victory after Mladen Krstajic had handled in his own box.
Another Revierderby that lives long in the memory thanks to a late intervention, albeit this one far more unconventional than Naldo's leveller. Dortmund twice led through goals from Vladimir But and Andreas Möller either side of Denis Klyuev’s effort for Schalke. Möller’s 79th-minute free-kick looked to have given his side victory until a 90th-minute corner gave the visitors one last chance to throw the kitchen sink at rescuing a point. Said proverbial kitchen fitting came in the form of goalkeeper Jens Lehmann. The former Germany international, who would go on to play for Dortmund, was left unmarked at the back post to nod home Thomas Linke’s flick. It was the first time ever that a 'keeper had scored in the Bundesliga. What a way to make history!
Watch: Some of the most memorable Revierderby moments, including THAT Lehmann goal
4) Dortmund 0-1 Schalke (30 January 2004)
That was not the only incidence of a goalkeeper playing a heroic role in a Revierderby, as this 2004 meeting shows. Frank Rost may not have scored like Lehmann did, but his two penalty saves were worth just as much as a late winner as the Royal Blues held on to a 1-0 away victory. Jan Koller was denied the chance to give the hosts the lead in the ninth minute and Torsten Frings assumed responsibility for taking Dortmund's next spot-kick 15 minutes from time. After he too was denied, Ebbe Sand chipped in Hamit Altintop's pass in the 89th minute to earn the Royal Blues all three points, with Rost hailed as the hero.
Dortmund were out of contention even for a place in Europe, but that did not stop them from ruining their rivals' title hopes. BVB fans rejoiced as if they had won the Bundesliga crown themselves after goals from Frei and Ebi Smolarek gave them victory, and as news filtered through that Stuttgart had won 3-2 in nearby Bochum, the roof was nearly brought down. A week later, Stuttgart clinched the title with Dortmund's Revierderby win contributing considerably to Schalke throwing a maiden Bundesliga title away.
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