The 90 previous Bundesliga clashes between the two Borussias have produced 301 goals, which equates to an average of 3.3 goals per game. The Black & Yellows have not failed to score in any of their last 25 home games against Gladbach, lasting drawing a blank against the Foals on home turf in a goalless draw in August 1988.

image

The scenario: It is league leaders Dortmund, who are unbeaten in 11 games stretching back into last season, versus seventh-placed Gladbach, who have only lost one of their last nine. BVB have won five of the last six meetings between the sides and have the better head-to-head record.

Home/away: Borussia Dortmund have won their last four home games and are on a 40-match unbeaten run at Signal Iduna Park. Gladbach, meanwhile, have only lost two of their 17 Bundesliga, UEFA Europa League and DFB Cup away games under Dieter Hecking, winning nine and drawing six.

Personnel matters: BVB are without Schmelzer, Reus, Guerreiro, Schürrle, Rode and Durm, while Götze, Toljan and Bartra are doubtful. Gladbach are hoping to have Sommer in goal; Hofmann and Kramer only trained individually on Friday. Doucouré, Benes, Grifo, Strobl, Traoré and Drmic are all unavailable.

Head-to-head: Borussia Dortmund have won five of their last six meetings with Mönchengladbach and have the better head-to-head record in the Bundesliga (33 wins, 29 defeats, 28 draws). There has always been at least one goal in the last 40 clashes between the clubs, with the last goalless draw coming at the Bökelberg on 17 April 1994. Ten of the last 11 home games against the men from the Lower Rhine have been won. Only against Frankfurt and Bremen have BVB won more often after conceding the first goal than they have against Mönchengladbach (eight).

Statistics: BVB have the best offensive (13 goals scored) and defensive records (none conceded) in the league and have not lost any of the last 34 matches in which they have scored first (they have won the last eight). Gladbach have only failed to score in one of their last 13 league games.

Biggest win: Borussia Dortmund's biggest victory over the Foals came in September 2012, when they won 5-0 thanks to goals from Marco Reus (two), Neven Subotic, Ilkay Gündogan and Jakub Blaszczykowski.

Attendance: There are still 600 seated tickets available for purchase from the away ticket office once the stadium opens at 16:00 CET, but they will not be sold to visitors wearing black and yellow fan clothing.

Referee: Manuel Gräfe and linesmen Markus Sinn und Guido Kleve will oversee the Bundesliga clash with Borussia Mönchengladbach. It is the 43rd match involving BVB for the world-renowned referee from Berlin.
Compiled by Boris Rupert