Borussia Dortmund vs. Schalke: 5 of the best Revierderbies in history
Every country has its own great footballing rivalries, but they all pale in comparison to the Revierderby between Ruhr district neighbours Borussia Dortmund and Schalke. Join us as we take a trip down memory lane to look back on five of the teams' most memorable clashes.
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1) Dortmund 4-4 Schalke (25 November 2017)
An instant classic, this match summed up everything the Revierderby is about. Played at a frenetic pace, Dortmund fans were on cloud nine come 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 the 4-4 thriller
2) Dortmund 3-3 Schalke (13 September 2008)
Just over 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 was overseeing his first Revierderby as Dortmund coach, and his side weren't going to roll over. 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.
Watch: The history of the Revierderby
3) Borussia Dortmund 2-2 Schalke (19 December 1997)
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 goalkeeper had scored from open play in the Bundesliga. What a way to make history!
Watch: Revierderby memory lane
4) Dortmund 2-4 Schalke (27 April 2019)
If that was a draw that felt like a win for Schalke, this one was a win that felt like a title triumph for the Royal Blues - or a deliciously title-robbing one, at the very least. Dortmund were just a single point behind Bayern after Matchday 30 of the 2018/19 season, well placed to push them all the way in the race for the Meisterschale.
So when Mario Götze headed BVB in front in the 14th minute against Schalke on Matchday 31, all appeared to be well in the Black-and-Yellow corner. But Lucien Favre's side soon imploded, conceding two quickfire goals to go in 2-1 down at half-time. Red cards for Marco Reus and Marius Wolf in the first 20 minutes of the second period made a bad afternoon even worse for those of a Dortmund persuasion, who ended up nursing a 4-2 defeat.
Local bragging rights gone, it proved a sucker punch in the title race. Bayern also slipped up on that weekend, drawing 1-1 away to Nuremberg but still moving two points clear at the top - and ultimately winning their seventh consecutive league crown by that very margin...
Watch: Highlights of how Dortmund's 2018/19 title tilt unravelled against Schalke
5) Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Schalke (12 May 2007)
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.
Watch: The top 5 Revierderby goals
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