Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer inspired Schalke to a 0-0 draw at Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund yesterday.
The Schalke keeper showed why he is Germany’s No. 1 with saves from the third minute on in the 137th Ruhr Derby.
Dortmund had 66 per cent of possession inside the first 15 minutes, and Schalke players barely touched the ball in the first half.
In the second, Neuer rushed out of his area to block a goalbound shot from Robert Lewandowski, making it back in time to grab Nuri Sahin’s attempted lob from distance.
He did enough to distract Mario Goetze late on. The 18-year-old was unable to prevent his shot from drifting wide.
Dortmund increased their lead in the table to 12 points from Bayer Leverkusen, while Schalke climb to 9th.
In today’s derby, fifth-place Hannover host a Wolfsburg side bolstered by the acquisition of six new players in the winter break, including exciting 19-year-old Yohandry Orozco from Venezuela.
Wolfsburg coach Steve McClaren can also count on Turkey international Tuncay Sanli in midfield, and former Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrick Helmes has arrived to replace the departed Edin Dzeko.
In today’s late game, 2007 Bundesliga champions Stuttgart travel to Borussia Moenchengladbach for a relegation battle between the two bottom sides.
Stuttgart coach Bruno Labbadia is hopeful that Germany striker Cacau will make a return from injury.
He has also bolstered his attack with the acquisition of Japan striker Shinji Okazaki from J-League club Shimizu S-Pulse, expected to make his debut against Nuremberg on 12 February.
Also today, relegation strugglers Cologne host third-place Bayern Munich who will welcome Franck Ribery back from injury.
Ribery will make his comeback a week after reports claimed he would miss at least another three weeks due to a knee injury sustained at Wolfsburg. It is unclear whether he will start against 16th-place Cologne.
Robben, however, did not travel with the rest of the squad after he was unable to partake in yesterday’s training due to a cold.
There’s another local derby tomorrow, when Hamburg SV host St Pauli, with public viewing set up around the city so fans without a ticket can see the sold-out game.
“It is one of the most beautiful games of all,” Hamburg coach Armin Veh said. “A derby at home in front of your own fans. If that does not stir your heart, then you have none.”
Yesterday
Borussia Dortmund-Schalke 04 0-0
Today
Borussia M’gladbach-VfB Stuttgart
Cologne-Bayern Munich
Hannover 96-Wolfsburg
Mainz-Werder
Nurnberg-Bayer Leverkusen
Hoffenheim-FC Kaiserslautern
Tomorrow
Hamburg-St Pauli
Freiburg-Eintracht Frankfurt