For many years, Hertha BSC were BVB’s favourite opponents. The Berlin outfit have won only three times at Strobelallee in 26 Bundesliga years, which represents their worst record at any stadium! The last meeting, however, ended in a shock 2-1 win for the side that later got relegated against the champions-to-be – it was Borussia’s only home defeat between August 2010 and October 2012 (36 games).

The scenario: BVB may have only collected five points from their last four games, with 32 points after 16 games they are still better off than at the same stage in the previous two campaigns. Sitting in seventh, Hertha are currently the best promoted side in the Bundesliga. They are on a three-game unbeaten run in which they picked up seven of a possible nine points.

Home/away: After winning their first six home games this season, Borussia suffered back-to-back losses against Bayern (0-3) and Leverkusen (0-1). The last time they lost three home games in a row was in the spring of 2000. There has never been a run of three home games without a goal for BVB. Hertha failed to win any of their first five away matches before picking up back-to-back victories at Hoffenheim and Braunschweig. They are the only side this season that has lost more often at home (three defeats) than away (two defeats).

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Marcel Schmelzer returns to the squad.

Personnel matters: BVB will be without Subotic and Gündogan, and most likely Bender, with Kehl and Kuba rated doubtful, while Schmelzer is set to return to the squad. Hertha have injury concerns over Brooks and will have to do without Holland, Langkamp, van den Bergh, Baumjohann and Ben-Hatira.

Tactics: Both coaches favour a 4-2-3-1 – it’s unlikely that they will opt for another formation on Saturday.

Head-to-head: BVB have a record of 23 wins, 14 draws and 15 losses against Hertha in the Bundesliga. They have been particularly successful at home, winning 16 (with a goal differential of 62-26) and losing only three (all 1-2) of 26 games. Hertha just once managed a clean sheet (a 0-0 draw) in Dortmund – that was 44 years ago . They scored the opening goal at BVB on eight occasions, but only twice they went on and won it.

Statistics: In three of their last four meetings with Hertha, BVB kept a clean sheet and they have also found the net in each of the last 22 home games against them.

Biggest home win: On 19 October 1963, Borussia crushed Hertha 7-2 in front of 28,000 at Rote Erde Stadium. Rylewicz put the home side in front from the spot on 11 minutes, Rühl equalised for Hertha on 21 minutes. Emmerich restored the lead a minute later before Schmidt (29 mins.) and Konietzka (44) netted to give BVB a 4-1 lead at the break), with Sturm, Emmerich and Konietzka adding another three goals after the interval.

Attendance: SIGNAL IDUNA PARK is sold out, with all 80,645 tickets snapped up.

Referee: Peter Gagelmann will referee a BVB game in the Bundesliga for the 27th time. The 45-year-old from Bremen will be assisted by Matthias Anklam and Thomas Gorniak. The fourth official is Guido Kleve. Gagelmann, an event manager, is married (one child) and lists squash, skiing and travelling as his hobbies. He has become a DFB referee in 1994.