The result was irrelevant, the message clear after losing the Champions League match on Tuesday. "We want the derby win!", demanded the South Stand. "I believe that the derby is the best thing that can happen to us right now in this situation", said Peter Bosz: "All the players, especially those tho have been at the club for a longer period of time, know how important this match is."

A victory in the 151st competitive derby would not make good all that which has not been good for BVB these past few weeks, but a win could serve as the beginning of a turnaround in a first half of a season whose swings in fortune have never been more extreme in all of BVB's history. "If we win the match against Schalke, then the pain of the last few weeks will quickly evaporate", hoped Gonzalo Castro.

"I expect the team to draw themselves up and to go into the derby concentratedly, determinedly, and with courage. This is an excellent opportunity to win back some confidence", emphasised Hans-Joachim Watzke, who added: "If we play courageously, then we'll get the fans onside and they'll stand behind us like a wall."

"At the moment it is simply the individual mistakes that are costing us", complained Marcel Schmelzer after the 1-2 loss against Tottenham. The captain directed his explicit thanks at the fans, "who have remained very calm up till now".

Remaining calm is certainly not on the agenda today, when 73,000 BVB fans will be frenetically supporting the team in an effort to bring about a result similar to that of, for example, 19.09.1987: Borussia won that day thanks to goals from Dickel, Zorc (2) and Mill to win 4-1 and leapfrog the Royal Blues in the table once again.. (br)