A Ruhr treat for Germany

Saturday's Ruhr Valley derby between BV Borussia Dortmund and FC Schalke 04 in the Westfalenstadion promises to be one of the biggest games of the season.

Ruhr Valley delight
Rarely has a local derby between Dortmund and Schalke been more crucial to the 1.Bundesliga title race. In 1997 the two renowned German clubs reached the top of European football when Dortmund won the UEFA Champions League and Schalke triumphed in the UEFA Cup and the footballing sunshine seems have returned to Germany's former coal and steel region - the Ruhr Valley.
 
Five consecutive wins for Schalke
So far, no other German top-flight team has had a better run than Schalke in 2002. They have notched convincing wins in all four of their Bundesliga matches, beating the likes of FC Bayern München and Bayer 04 Leverkusen. However, on Saturday the team from Gelsenkirchen will travel to their neighbours in Dortmund aiming to clinch their first league title since 1958. 
 
Current leaders Borussia
With 47 points, leaders Dortmund are currently two points ahead of Leverkusen, and six ahead of Schalke who are in fourth position, just one point behind 1. FC Kaiserslautern. Dortmund have won eight points from their four league matches played since the New Year, and have been exemplary in defence.
 
'We will beat Schalke'
Dortmund general manager Michael Meier said: "I think we will beat Schalke. However, they've made an impressive run in their latest matches, and not against 'pub' teams." Despite old rivalries, Schalke general manager Rudi Assauer declared: "No matter whether we beat them on Saturday or not, Dortmund will win the league this year. They have the best defence and the best individual players."
 
Schalke triumph in September
On 15 September 2001, Schalke beat Dortmund 1-0 at home with the winning goal being scored by Andreas Möller. Last season's meeting at Westfalenstadion ended with a humiliating 4-0 Schalke victory. However, it was only Dortmund's second home defeat in their last 20 meetings with their neighbours.
 
Amoroso to be in starting eleven?
On Saturday, Dortmund coach Matthias Sammer will have to do without Jörg Heinrich who has a thigh injury. Giuseppe Reina and Otto Addo may also not be fully fit. However there is good news of Sunday Oliseh, who returned from the African Cup of Nations with a bronze medal and is available for Saturday's game. The only mystery is whether Marcio Amoroso will appear in the starting eleven for the first time this year. Dortmund will also have the additional worry of not wanting to exhaust their players ahead of the first leg of their fourth-round UEFA Cup tie away to Le Championnat side Lille OSC.
 
Good news for Stevens
The news for Schalke coach Huub Stevens is mostly positive too. Ebbe Sand returned from Denmark's friendly in Saudi Arabia on Thursday morning and trained with the team the same day. Anibal Matellán and Jörg Böhme have also been able to resume full training and are in contention. The only doubts concern Emile Mpenza and Victor Agali, who has just returned from the African Cup of Nations in Mali.