For many years Hertha BSC was one of BVB’s favourite opponents. The Berliners have only won three times in twenty-six years against Dortmund. However, they have won two of the last three meetings at Signal Iduna Park. We have compiled all the important match facts for you.

Background: Both teams have started the season well: BVB with six points and eight goals and Hertha BSC has picked up four of a possible six points with a 1-0 victory against FC Augsburg and a 1-1 draw against Werder Bremen.

Home/Away: BVB has won their last five games at Signal Iduna Park and has scored at least two goals in each game and only conceded in one – a 3-2 victory against Werder Bremen. Hertha has only won one of their last five away games – a 1-0 victory against FC Augsburg at the start of the season.

Team News: BVB will have to do without Sahin (still in training), Durm (knee injury) and Kirch (pulled hamstring). Ben-Hatira, Hegeler, Allagui and Schieber are missing for Hertha.

Record: With 25 wins against 14 draws and 17 losses, BVB has the better record, especially at home. Here there have only been four losses in 27 meetings (all 2-1!) compared to 17 wins and 65 goals and only 28 goals conceded. In their first 21 visits to Dortmund, Hertha only won once but they have won three times in their last seven. There has only been one 0-0 stalemate and that was over 45 years ago in December 1969. Apart from Dortmund Hertha has only ever conceded more than 100 goals against Bayern and Bremen. Hertha has taken a 1-0 lead eight times against Dortmund but has only managed to hold onto this lead and win twice.

Statistics: Borussia Dortmund has only lost one of their last eight matches and has remained goalless in just one of their last eleven games. Hertha are also difficult to beat as they have lost just one of their last four games. It could be important who scores the first goal: BVB has won the last ten games in which they took a 1-0 lead and Hertha hasn’t lost any of their last 12 games after going ahead.

The biggest victory: On 19. October 1963 Borussia thrashed Hertha 7-2 home at the Rote Erde stadium. 28,000 spectators saw Rylewicz score the opener from the penalty spot in the 11th minute. Rühl then equalised but the Black and Yellows responded with more goals from Emmerich, Schmidt and Konietzka in the 22nd, 29th and 44th minutes respectively. In the second half Sturm, Emmerich and Konietzka all found the back of the net.

Referee: Guido Winkmann, a 41-year-old policeman, will referee his 83rd Bundesliga match and his first in which Borussia Dortmund plays.