Revierderby

The Revierderby is the fierce local rivalry of the Ruhr, the old industrial region of western Germany. Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund are based only a short distance apart, and the closeness of the two clubs makes this one of the most heated derbies in German football.

Borussia Dortmund are the larger force of the two in the modern game, a club known for huge crowds, attacking football and a famous wall of standing supporters at their stadium. Dortmund have built a strong reputation at home and in Europe.

Schalke 04 are one of German football's proudest traditional clubs, with a long history and an intensely loyal support drawn from the mining communities of the Ruhr. Even through difficult seasons, the bond between Schalke and their supporters has stayed unusually strong.

The rivalry grew out of the shared world of the Ruhr's coal and steel towns, where the two clubs became symbols of neighbouring communities. That common background, rather than dividing the fixture, made it more personal, and beating the neighbour is treated as a prize in itself.

For supporters of both clubs the Revierderby can outweigh league position entirely. It is a contest for the pride of the Ruhr, played between two clubs whose identities are tied to the same industrial heartland, and the result is felt across the region for weeks.