BVB Undefeated in 26 years at home against Cologne

Where they Stand: This is the first time that the clubs will meet each other as "first against last" in the long history of the 'Western Duel', notwithstanding the fact that the table is nothing more than an ephemeral snapshot after just three games played. BVB are unbeaten in domestic competition and still yet to concede a goal. Cologne have lost their last four games.

Home and Away: Borussia Dortmund have won their last three home games and are undefeated since April 2015 in their home stadium (39 games). They have only failed to score in one of their last 13 home games: in the 0-0 against 1. FC Cologne on 29. April. Stöger's team have won none of their last nine away games (last win was on 28. January, 6-1 in Darmstadt).

Personnel: Cologne are without Hector. Borussia will play without Schmelzer, Bartra, Reus, Guerreiro, Schürrle, Rode, and Durm. Götze is doubtful.

Head-to-Head: The last three fixtures (and four of the last five) ended without a victor. BVB have not won against FC in six games, their longest winless streak against any Bundesliga club. Beforehand, they had won eight consecutive matches against them. By contrast, Borussia are undefeated in 18 games at home against FC (14 wins, 4 draws). Cologne last won in Dortmund 26 years ago: on 13. April 1991 a brace from Maurice Banach gave them a 2-1 victory. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored against 16 of the 17 other current Bundesliga teams. He has only failed to score against Cologne.

Statistics: Dortmund are undefeated in nine games und have lost none of their last 32 matches in which they took a 1-0 lead (their last defeat after going ahead came in December 2015, 1-2 in Cologne). FC are also very dependable when they take the lead, with their last loss in such circumstances coming in January 2016 against Stuttgart (20 games).

Highest Home Win: On 15. October 1966 in the "Rote Erde" (red earth) Stadium, BVB won 6-1 thanks to goals from Emmerich (3), Wosab (2) and Held. Jendrossek scored for Cologne.

Attendance: Signal Iduna Park is not yet sold-out, as Cologne have just returned 600 seated tickets. These will be sold on Sunday from 15:30 at the away fans' match day ticket desk (not to guests in BVB colours).

Referee: Patrick Ittrich (38) will officiate a BVB fixture for the second time. In his first, around one year ago, the encounter ended 0-0 against Berlin. The police officer from Hamburg has been taking charge of first division games since February 2016.
Compiled by Boris Rupert