On Saturday, the district derby between Schalke and BVB takes place in front of empty stands. The sporting and personal situation of both teams before the match differs greatly.
It will be a derby of contrasts – in several respects. On Saturday, Borussia Dortmund will invite FC Schalke 04 to a hot dance in their home Signal Iduna Park.
“We are looking forward to the derby because it is the game par excellence in the season,” explained Schalke Sports Director Jochen Schneider. “It’s hard to say what the games will be like this season, whether there will be curious results or not. It’s all hypothetical.”
In any case, one thing is clear: The first ghostly district derby in Bundesliga history is determined by its contrasts. The spectators, who are always an essential part of an emotionally charged derby, will inevitably be missing due to the corona pandemic. But not only that, there are also serious differences between the Pott clubs in terms of the sporting situation.
Reus and Zagadou drop out of BVB
On the one hand, the Dortmund team has won eight of the last nine league games and is thus in close contact (four points clear) with the leaders FC Bayern München. On the other side are the struggling Schalkers, who have won only one of the last nine league games (five draws). In sporting terms, the two Pott-Klubs were worlds apart before the Corona crisis.
But while the injured are returning bit by bit to the struggling Schalker, BVB is limping into the ghost derby!
Several BVB pros are in doubt for the weekend. Marco Reus and Dan-Axel Zagadou will definitely be out. Reus suffered an ominous adductor injury more than three months ago. For Saturday, the midfield star will “unfortunately not yet be an issue”, as head of licence player Sebastian Kehl recently confirmed.
According to information, Reus is currently still doing individual training and has not yet been able to practise with the team. He is nevertheless aiming for a timely return in May. “I’m well on track for rehab, I’m on target,” the 30-year-old recently told RTL.
Zagadou is also sure to drop out. The 20-year-old defender is just recovering from an injury to his left knee.