Borussia Dortmund vs Schalke: 7 Classic Revierderby Clashes

The Revierderby is part of 90min's 50 Biggest Derbies in the World Series.

Despite somewhat living in the shadow of Der Klassiker, the Revierderby between Borussia Dortmund and Schalke is arguably the most exciting in German football.

It brings to the table everything that we love about an old-fashioned rivalry; passionate fans, goals, red cards, ridiculous tackles, bragging rights. As a result, it's hardly surprising that it's labelled the 'Mother of all Derbies'.

Over the years there have been some remarkable heavyweight clashes between these two old foes, steeped in drama, chaos and more goals than you can shake a stick at. To celebrate the Revierderby in all its glory, we've gone through the archives and selected seven of the greatest clashes between Dortmund and Schalke from past times.

Schalke 10-0 Borussia Dortmund (1940)

A record Revierderby victory, Dortmund haven't had many more embarrassing days in their long, esteemed history.

Ernst Kuzorra's four goals helped Schalke on their way to a staggering result, piling misery on their bitter Ruhr rivals in a period of complete and utter domination for the Royal Blues. The game was played in front of just 3000 fans but it remains a victory that will live forever in the Revierderby history books – and will likely never be surpassed by either side.

Poor old Dortmund, eh?

Schalke 2-6 Borussia Dortmund (1964)

With Dortmund now having established themselves as the top dog in the Revierderby, this result – and scoreline – was to be expected. But the manner in which BVB dismantled their rivals on enemy soil still came as a huge surprise.

Six goals in 26 first-half minutes did the trick, with braces from Friedhelm Konietzka and Franz Brungs consigning Schalke to a torrid derby day defeat. The Royal Blues would go on to finish rock bottom of the Bundesliga, while Dortmund would revel in their new-found superiority in the Revierderby, eventually finishing third.

Borussia Dortmund 3-2 Schalke (1994)

On their way to the Bundesliga title, BVB secured what eventually proved to be a crucial victory over their local rivals early in the season. And there may not be a Revierderby in which Dortmund boasted three such sensationally talented goalscorers.

A 72nd-minute winner from Andreas Moller, following first-half strikes from Stephane Chapuisat and Michael Zorc, secured three points for Dortmund after they looked to have, albeit briefly, surrendered a 2-1 lead.

Considering Dortmund went on to win the Bundesliga title by just a single point, the narrow October Revierderby victory was arguably the difference between silverware and heartbreak for BVB.

Borussia Dortmund 2-2 Schalke (1997)

A last-minute equaliser is always dramatic, but when said goal is scored by your goalkeeper, well, it's just ridiculous.

But that's what happened back in 1997 in the Revierderby following two second-half goals in the space of four minutes that had had given BVB the lead with ten minutes remaining. However, when these two sides play there is always a ludicrous amount of chaos.

With Schalke throwing the kitchen sink at their rivals with time running out, the Royal Blues won what would turn out to be a momentous corner a minute from time. Up came everybody's favourite crazy keeper Jens Lehmann, who proceeded to head in at the far post with aplomb following a near-post flick-on.

Lehmann became the first keeper to ever score in the Bundesliga from open play and wrote his name into Schalke folklore as a result.

Borussia Dortmund 3-3 Schalke (2008)

While the 21st century Revierderby matches haven't boasted quite as many goals as some of the earlier fixtures, there have still been a fair few swashbuckling, high-scoring outings between these two bitter rivals. Rewind to 2008 and you'll see a prime example.

Approximately 80,000 Dortmund fans watched on as their side fell three goals behind early in the second half to Schalke, with Jurgen Klopp's men in need of some heroics to get anything out of the game.

Luckily for Klopp, Dortmund never give up without a fight, and centre-back Neven Subotic's strike just started to raise the hopes of the home crowd. Three minutes later, half-time substitute Alex Frei cut the deficit further, setting up a grand stand finish in the Ruhr derby. With a second successive away day Revierderby victory only moments away for Schalke, the visitors conceded a penalty in the final minute of normal time; a spot kick that was subsequently converted by Frei once again.

Last-gasp drama, there's simply no other way for Dortmund is there?

Borussia Dortmund 4-4 Schalke (2017)

The greatest instalment of the Revierderby in recent history, this clash between Dortmund and Schalke epitomised the beauty, drama and unbridled chaos that this match has to offer.

It's safe to say that not even the most pessimistic Dortmund supporter would have anticipated this following four BVB goals within the first 25 minutes. Then Dortmund boss Peter Bosz likely walked into the dressing room at half-time on cloud nine having just masterminded a Revierderby performance like no other, with Schalke left gasping for air on their knees at the break.

Guido Burgstaller may have pulled a goal back with half-an-hour left on the clock, but there was still little cause for concern. Even an Amine Harit second four minutes later merely seemed like a consolation.

A Dortmund red card and a third for the Royal Blues with just four minutes of normal time remaining will have more than likely got a fair few pulses racing, while Naldo's 94th-minute equaliser will have certainly broken 80,000 hearts inside the Westfalenstadion.

Simply staggering.

Borussia Dortmund 2-4 Schalke (2019)

Six goals, two red cards and massive consequences atop the league table; this is what derbies are all about.

Dortmund were just one point behind Bayern Munich prior to kick-off, knowing a victory could keep them in the hunt for a rare league title. Having taken a 14-minute lead, things looked to be going swimmingly for the hosts, but two goals in ten minutes for the Royal Blues changed the state of play significantly.

With Dortmund scrambling to turn things around, two over-enthusiastic challenges from Marco Reus and Marius Wolf were met with red cards, while Schalke added two more goals to secure an emphatic derby day victory behind enemy lines.

While Schalke fans were the ones enjoying euphoric celebrations come the final whistle, Bayern fans were probably sharing in some of the spoils.