Aside from the reverse fixture earlier this season, which produced a goalless draw for the first time, matches between Borussia Dortmund and Hannover 96 have usually tended to be high-scoring and turbulent affairs. There have been 186 goals in 53 previous meetings, with 112 of them scored by the Black & Yellows. Below we have compiled all the important information you need to know in the usual compact format.

The scenario: League leaders BVB have won eight of their previous nine Bundesliga matches, while 17th-placed H96 are winless in seven. Borussia Dortmund have emerged victorious in seven of their last eight home games against Hannover.

Home/away: Borussia top the home table, having picked up 25 points out of a possible 27 and only dropped points at home in the 2-2 draw with Hertha Berlin. Hannover are winless in eight games on the road but have only lost just over half of their previous nine away games (four draws, five defeats). The men from Lower Saxony have not lost their last two away games though, picking up 1-1 draws in Mainz and Freiburg.

Personnel matters: Lucien Favre will be issuing an update about the personnel situation at a press conference starting at 13:00 CET today (live on BVB TV). Hannover, meanwhile, have recently been without Hübers (torn cruciate ligament), Asano (muscular problems), Haraguchi (Asia Cup with Japan), Maina, Füllkrug (both knee operation), Prib (training following torn cruciate ligament), Sarenren Bazee (training following hairline fracture in shin) and Bebou (thigh injury).

Head-to-head record: BVB have won seven of their last 10 matches against Hannover and only lost four of their 26 home games against the 96ers. However, the previous four home games against H96 have only produced one goal (1-0, 0-1, 1-0, 1-0). Hannover have had more players (seven) dismissed against Borussia Dortmund than any other club.

Statistics: Games involving the Black & Yellows have been the highest-scoring in the division with 63 goals in total. No team has scored more (45), while no team has conceded fewer (18). Hannover 96 have not kept a single clean sheet in their last 16 matches. The last game in which they didn't concede was the 0-0 draw against BVB.

Biggest home win: BVB recorded a 6-2 victory on 18 October 2003, with Ewerthon and Koller each scoring a brace and Ricken and Kehl on the scoresheet too.

Attendance: Signal Iduna Park is sold out with 81,365 fans set to attend. Hannover will bring 4,500 travelling fans.

Referee: The appointment will be announced by the DFB late on Thursday afternoon.
Compiled by Boris Rupert