Why Dortmund vs Schalke is one of the fiercest derbies in the world

Saturday's Revierderby will the 99th one in its history.

Dortmund and Schalke have always produced many memorable scenes in Bundesliga history. The Revierderby is one of Europe's most acclaimed derbies and has a long history in Germany.

The Revierderby has been dubbed as 'the mother of all derbies' in Europe, and many fans from both sides have had a tense relationship in the past. There have been several unfortunate incidents between fans over the years, as Dortmund and Gelsenkirchen are only 20 miles away in Germany's Ruhr region.

Both clubs' supporters can be found in the heart of Germany's coal and steel production. The Revierderby is only known for its black-and-yellow and royal blue colours. Their fans even avoid referring to their opponents by name. For example, Schalke fans refer to Dortmund as 'Lüdenscheid-Nord,' while Schalke is referred to as 'Herne-West.'

How it all began

Dortmund and Schalke will play their 99th Bundesliga match on Saturday, with Dortmund holding a narrow head-to-head lead over Schalke. However, the latter dominated the derby in the budding years of the encounter and also during the 1990s.

Their first-ever meeting came in 1925 and resulted in a 4-2 win in Schalke's favour.

However, after a few years, Dortmund ended Schalke's superiority and took control of the derby after restructuring their club and bringing in a new style of play with a new manager.

Some of the biggest matches of Revierderby

Schalke's 7-0, 9-0, and 10-0 victories over Dortmund saw the club emerge into one of Germany's most famous clubs, and their reputation flourished.

A 3-2 win back in the 1946/47 Westfalenliga final over Schalke was a great milestone and a major moment in the derby, as the black-and-yellow have since developed into a dominant force in Germany (previously West Germany). They won their first three titles between the 1950s and the early 1960s.

Battles of arch-rivals in Bundesliga

When the Bundesliga was established in Germany in 1963, it was known as the German league, and they promoted many clubs from all over the country to it. And, like Dortmund, Schalke too started a new era in the Bundesliga.

The Black and Yellow maintained their dominance in the derby, both regionally and nationally. Both clubs were led by two prominent strikers, Timo Konietzka and Lothar Emmerich, who dominated the scoring charts and were the only players in the Revierderby to score a hat-trick.

Also Read: Top five players to play for both Borussia Dortmund and Schalke 04

The Bundesliga saw many memorable moments. But the September,1969 fixture, which was played in the presence of 40,000 people in Dortmund remains to be one of the most tragic games ever. When Schalke took the lead at Rote Erde Stadium, many fans ran into the field, compelling the police to release their dogs to regain control. In the process, one of the dogs bit Friedel Rausch and Gerd Neuser (both played for Schalke).

Regardless, there have been some poignant moments, as well as healthy rivalry between the clubs. Financial assistance has also been provided to one another. In 1974, Dortmund was struggling and was heavily in debt. Schalke were invited to inaugurate the Dortmund’s then new stadium Westfalenstadion for the 1974 FIFA World Cup. Surprisingly, neither did the rivals didn't take a penny nor a share from the gate receipts.

Which team from the Revierderby has more league titles?

Borussia Dortmund have eight titles in their cabinet, one more than their rivals. Here comes the twist. The Black and Yellow actually struggled against their Gelsenkirchen rivals for decades. The game-changer was Jurgen Klopp, after whose arrival, Dortmund bagged two consecutive Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012.

Unfortunately, Schalke's last Bundesliga title came in 1958, and their status in Germany has waned since then. This has given Dortmund contentment that they continue to rub in their derbies. In 2007, Schalke came close to ending that drought, but a derby victory for Dortmund ended Schalke's maiden title hopes in this century. 

Despite not having won the league title for a long time, both clubs have always produced a special game. The fact that the two clubs will meet for the 99th time on Saturday explains how they have remained static in the German top-flight.