BVB women host Schalke for top game of the Westfalenliga | OneFootball

There is a lot of interest in this game: all 10,000 tickets for the game on Sunday were sold in less than a week, meaning the Borussians will be fighting for points in a sold-out Stadion Rote Erde. The Borussians want to come away with three extra points to secure first place in the table, which means qualifying for promotion to the Regionalliga. The atmosphere that can be expected in the stadium has only increased the anticipation ahead of the game, especially as it emphasises the explosiveness of this meeting: there is only one point separating Borussia Dortmund and Schalke at the top of the Westfalenliga table. The Black&Yellows will be going into the game with 61 points, while the visitors from Gelsenkirchen have 60.

The excitement for this critical game within the team is immense, as captain Marie Grothe confirmed: "The feeling in the team is super positive. Everyone is excited that the day of the match is finally approaching. We've been working for weeks and months to be in the position that we're in now, one point ahead at the top of the table. When I see how motivated and positive the team is, how hard we're working, and how we've developed through the course of the season, I feel optimistic going into the game."

The first derby between the women's teams of the two clubs took place in the first half of the season, and ended in a goalless draw. In front of 2,999 spectators in the Gelsenkirchen Parkstadion, the teams delivered a competitive performance. Since this first meeting, both BVB and S04 have managed to win their respective twelve League games.

New additions in winter

Since the first game, new faces have appeared on both teams: in the winter break, FC Schalke signed defender Dilara Deli from Spanish second league team Sporting Huelva, who has already scored five goals in seven appearances for the Blue&Whites, and 19-year-old Joana Merten from regional league team Bayer Leverkusen. BVB strengthened their offense with Annika Enderle, who transferred from women's Bundesliga team SGS Essen, and Dana Marquardt, who joined the team from Hamburger SV in the second league. Marquardt contributed significantly to BVB's positive goal difference (97-12) and has scored 16 goals in the league since the winter.

The BVB women have been on strong form recently: on Easter Monday they beat Arminia Bielefeld, placed third in the Regionalliga West, 3-0, meaning they will progress to the final of the Westfalenpokal. Meanwhile the Schalke 04 women won their semi-final against SSV Rhade after the game went to penalties. As a result, both teams will be going into the eagerly awaited game on Sunday with a lot of self confidence. Just four match days away from the end of the season, the game is a battle for promotion to the Regionalliga. "Two neighbours, two rivals who are fighting for promotion - this is more than just a special game, it's a decisive game," said Svenja Schlenker, head of the women's football division.

Tickets for the game on Sunday are sold out, and it will not be possible to buy tickets on the door. There will be a diverse programme of events for spectators in front of the stadium from 12:00 CEST, and doors to the Rote Erde will open at 13:00 CEST.