FC Schalke 04 – Borussia Dortmund

A clash of the Ruhr will see FC Schalke 04 host Borussia Dortmund, a meeting that pits the league’s tenth‑placed side, with just four points from a win, a draw and a loss, against the second‑placed champions who sit on nine points after three straight victories. Schalke’s modest three‑goal tally, contrasted with Dortmund’s prolific eight, highlights a clear disparity in firepower that could shape the encounter. Yet the home side’s recent narrow defeat and a goal difference of minus one suggest they will be eager to tighten up defensively and steal at least a point. Historically, Dortmund have dominated recent head‑to‑head meetings, and with nothing to lose, Schalke will need to turn their modest form around to keep the gap at the top from widening further.