Reinvigorated FC Schalke will provide a real test for Dortmund

Opinion

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This article was published 10/03/2023 (913 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Most rivalries in team sports require the opponents to be at least somewhat competitive.

There are exceptions, of course. Yankees-Red Sox is heated no matter the standings. Oilers-Flames, maybe. Certainly Boca Juniors-River Plate, Barcelona-Real Madrid and Celtic-Rangers. They, however, are not the rule.

Then there’s that element unique to football: the two teams must actually play in the same league.

To that end, FC Schalke have not been holding up their end of the bargain. Last season was the first in 30 that their Revierderby showdown with Borussia Dortmund wasn’t staged — a consequence of their relegation from the Bundesliga. Though they were hardly a match for their Ruhr valley counterparts the few years prior.

Breel Embolo’s insurance marker in Schalke’s 4-2 victory of April 2019 still represents their most recent goal against Die Schwarzgelben, who’ve outscored them 12-0 in their five meetings since. Back in the Bundesliga, they limited their archrivals to a 1-0 win in September, and Saturday (11:30 a.m., Sportsnet World) they’ll look to do one better.

Even a score draw would be a triumph. The spectacle of the match itself is one thing, but Die Konigsblauen also need the points. Second from bottom and with a joint league-worst four wins on the campaign, they could climb as high as 14th with a win.

That said, this is one of those rare occasions in which the table does, in fact, lie.

Yes, Dortmund are in a dead heat with Bayern Munich at the Bundesliga summit, and yes, Schalke only moved out of last place a week ago. The duo, however, is also separated by just three positions in the form chart, a ranking of the previous five games in which neither has been beaten.

This isn’t especially surprising in Dortmund’s case, although their eight straight wins since the World Cup break is undoubtedly impressive and has put them right in the thick of the title race. But Schalke? The side that lost 10 out of 11 from September through January? The side that appeared destined for a second relegation in three seasons?

Well, sort of. When a turnaround is as sharp as this, the only explanation is it’s actually not the same team. Literally.

Back in October, amidst that horrendous run of results, manager Frank Kramer was sacked and sporting director Rouven Schroder resigned. The club had to make a pair of quick decisions, and they got them absolutely spot on. Thomas Reis was hired as Kramer’s replacement, and board member Peter Knabel assumed Schroder’s duties on a temporary basis.

By the time the Ruckrunde, or second half of the schedule, was underway, there were also a number of different players in the first team squad, some coming from within the club itself and several brought in as Neuzugang, new signings.

Perhaps most crucial was Knabel’s loan acquisition of Moritz Jenz. Having struggled to settle at Celtic during the first half of the season, the Lorient centre-back has not only helped stabilize Schalke’s backline but also turn it into German football’s best, almost overnight. The arrival of Eder Balanta from Club Brugge has only further strengthened the team’s defensive play.

Knabel also grabbed striker Michael Frey on a temporary deal from Royal Antwerp and promoted right-sided midfielder Soichiro Kozuki from the reserves. Reis, meanwhile, restored former number-one goalkeeper Ralf Fahrmann to his old position. In all, five newcomers took part in last weekend’s 2-0 win away to Bochum.

Incredibly, as they go into the Revierderby—the 100th, incidentally — Schalke have conceded only once in their last six outings. Given their opponents’ offensive capabilities, it’s a record they’ll have to double down on.

Once again, however, the numbers are deceptive.

True, Borussia Dortmund have tallied 22 times over the course of their eight-match run, but they’ve also returned only four goals from their last four games in all competitions. Julian Brandt, their top Bundesliga goalscorer, was injured in Tuesday’s 2-0 loss at Chelsea and won’t take part, and strikers Karim Adeyemi and Youssoufa Moukoko will be absent as well.

Manager Edin Terzic will also be sweating over the availability of Marco Reus, who’s been battling the flu.

In other words, with so much suddenly going right for today’s hosts and adversity mounting for the guests, Schalke may feel they have a unique opportunity to do something special in a rivalry match that’s hit the boil before a ball’s been kicked.

On Thursday morning, local police raided several facilities suspected of being staging grounds for violent ultras. The action followed an in-stadium alcohol ban Schalke say will cost them several hundred thousand euros. The late start time is also of concern, with the darkness and extended period for pre-match drinking.

“It will be a hot dance,” Reis predicted to Kicker.

He couldn’t be more right.

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