Borussia Dortmund-Schalke 04 Statistical Preview

Team News
 Borussia Dortmund
Marcel Schmelzer and Joo-Ho Park compete for a spot at left-back. Marco Reus has been ruled out for the match (hamstring), which could give Gonzalo Castro a start on the right.
Jonas Hofmann and Adnan Januzaj are the first options on the bench, should manager Thomas Tuchel have to make any changes after another Europa League week.
All in all, Dortmund are expected to field their first choice XI.
 Schalke 04
Benedikt Höwedes is out with a hand injury and could be replaced by Roman Neustädter.
Junior Caicara and Sascha Riether both have a chance of starting at right-back.
Sead Kolasinac, Kaan Ayhan and Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg are all options to replace the suspended Johannes Geis in central midfield.
Prediction
Dortmund currently sit second and will want to extend the gap between themselves and Wolfsburg and Schalke. They are well-balanced and strong on the break.
Schalke have only won one of their last four matches and need to improve their balance again. They could drop their second striker in Franco Di Santo for that purpose and start in a 4-2-3-1 in this important match.
Expect this "Ruhrderby" to be a very intense game from the outset.