Schalke Vs Borussia Dortmund
Schalke Vs Borussia Dortmund Saturday 20th February 2021 – 17:30 (BT Sport)
German Bundesliga
Pick: Over 2.5 Goals & Both Teams to Score
Odds: 20/21
Bookmaker: Bet365
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 18th February 2021)
Preview: One of the most iconic fixtures and fiercest rivalries in German football could be set for one last hurrah this weekend. Schalke, bottom of the standings and seemingly destined for Bundesliga relegation, play host to a Borussia Dortmund outfit keen to bolster their own faltering top-four aspirations.
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Table of Contents
Schalke – Time running out for sinking Royal Blues?
Through twenty-one rounds, Schalke (W1 D6 L14) are yet to reach double figures for points, managing only one from their most recent assignment with Union Berlin in the German capital. It marked the first goalless encounter of the season for the side which has spent much of it propping up the Bundesliga, and, consequently, remain nine points from Arminia Bielefeld and potential survival via the relegation play-off.
With 39 points left to play for, demotion to the second tier is by no means a foregone conclusion – though only the bravest would dare back a team boasting one league win all season long somehow producing the five of six victories likely needed to stay up. And since breaking their duck with a resounding 4-0 win at home to Hoffenheim, Schalke have reverted to type with a seven-game winless sequence (D2 L5).
Goals have been a contentious issue all season, with their 15 from 23 matches at least three fewer than any other side. However, last week’s 0-0 stalemate made it three blanks in their last four league outings, and four across their past five competitive games when including the 1-0 DFB-Pokal Cup loss to Wolfsburg earlier in the month. They also posses the worst home record in the Bundesliga (W1 D2 L8).
Borussia Dortmund – Inconsistent yet highly capable?
In Spain on Wednesday, Dortmund (W10 D3 L8) would deliver a timely reminder of their capabilities as this frustratingly inconsistent side stormed Andalusia and departed with a thoroughly deserved 3-2 victory over Europa League holders Sevilla. Timely in the sense that it provides Edin Terzic’s men, who had been suffering from indifferent form of late domestically, with a platform ahead of the weekend’s Revierderby.
Possibly the least surprising aspect of their midweek triumph was Erling Haaland being at the forefront. The Norwegian bagged a brace, taking his tally while wearing the colours of the Black and Yellows to 41 in 42 competitive appearances. Simply staggering numbers. The 22-year-old was also on target in last week’s disappointing 2-2 home draw with Hoffenheim, a result which extended their poor bout of league form.
Across their last six Bundesliga matches, Dortmund would secure all three points only once, in a 3-1 scoreline against FC Augsburg at Signal Iduna Park, while succumbing to four defeats. Away from home they have lost each of their past three encounters, to Freiburg, Gladbach and Leverkusen, despite netting in all. In fact, they are now eight successive away league games without a clean sheet (W3 D1 L4).
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Schalke Vs Borussia Dortmund Betting Advice
Among the oldest adages in football is that form goes out the window when bitter neighbours or adversaries renew their rivalry. This has undoubtedly rung true in some of the more recent Revierderby, with Schalke frequently defying the league table to upset the odds. They will have to do so again here, the Royal Blues a full 24 points behind a Dortmund side enduring their worst campaign at this stage since 2014/15.
Schalke Vs Borussia Dortmund – Key Facts
- Neither side boast any meaningful positive form coming into the derby. Schalke winless in seven Bundesliga games (D2 L5) and Dortmund with one league win in six (W1 D1 L4).
- Both teams have scored in each of the last eight away Bundesliga games for Dortmund, although Schalke would only manage a goal in five of eleven home fixtures this term.
- Dortmund boast wins in the past two Revierderbies but only one across the last six (W1 D3 L2) held on Schalke territory. Last season’s corresponding fixture finishing 0-0.
Dortmund have gotten on top in recent duels, though, winning the last two encounters. Both, however, were at Signal Iduna Park. Schalke have actually lost only one of the past six meetings here in Gelsenkirchen, while three of the past four featured no more than two goals. Dortmund’s track record in defence lately, especially on the road, suggests goals on this occasion, and more than likely at both ends of the pitch.
Best Betting Odds – Schalke Vs Borussia Dortmund
Schalke – 9/1 (Betfair)
Draw – 9/2 (BetVictor)
Borussia Dortmund – 1/3 (Betway)
