Opta facts

• After winning both Bundesliga matches against Gladbach in 2017/18, Frankfurt have not won any of their last three games against the Foals (D1, L2).
• Frankfurt have only won more Bundesliga matches against Werder (35) than they have against Gladbach (34).
• After going unbeaten in four Bundesliga matches (W3, D1), Frankfurt have lost each of their last three in the league (aggregate scoreline: 1-10). They last went on a longer losing run in the BL in February/March 2017 (5).
• Frankfurt have taken 28 points from 24 Bundesliga games. They last had as few points at this stage in 2015/16 (23), when they only managed to avoid relegation after defeating Nürnberg in the play-off.
• Frankfurt have scored 27 goals and conceded 16 in their 12 Bundesliga home games this season (W6, D3, L3) – equalling their record from this stage last term.
• Gladbach have taken 49 points from the first 25 Bundesliga matches of the season (same as in their title-winning campaign of 1974/75). They’ve only managed more at this stage in 1983/84 (50; finished third) and 1969/70 (60; champions), converted to three points per win in both cases.
• Gladbach have scored in each of their last seven Bundesliga matches, but have also failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last eight league games. Only Augsburg are on a longer wait for a shutout (9).
• After going five Bundesliga away games without a win (D2, L3), Gladbach have won both their last two matches on the road. The Foals have taken 20 points from their first 12 BL away games – they last managed more in 1974/75 (22).
• Three of Patrick Herrmann’s five assists this Bundesliga season have set up Breel Embolo. No other Gladbach player has provided as many BL assists for a teammate in 2019/20.
• Gladbach’s Oscar Wendt is on the cusp of his 100th Bundesliga win – all of his previous 99 have come with the Foals. The Swede could become the first foreign-born player to reach this milestone with the Foals.

Borussia Dortmund v Schalke

There's little doubt that most of the attention will be on this fixture as the Bundesliga makes a return.

The Revierderby is the fiercest in Germany but there will be the unusual feel of being without those who truly drive the rivalry the most on matchday - the fans.

It's something that not only Dortmund and Schalke but the entire of the Bundesliga will have to get used to over the next nine gameweeks. With no fans to provide the atmosphere, it's up to the players to give these types of fixtures that added spark.

That's not to say that this is a fixture that will be dominated by cards and ill-discipline and there is a case to made for siding with the odds-against value of backing less than 50 booking points. We should still expect a contest with real quality on show.

Dortmund's 1/2 price for victory here needs little further explanation. They boast the best home record in the Bundesliga and come up against a Schalke side who are struggling for form and haven't performed as well as they would have hoped away from home.

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What is appealing is their value when it comes to victory with a margin. Dortmund on the -1 handicap is odds-against across the board, which looks too good to turn down in this particular contest.

We should expect some major differences from the 0-0 draw back in October. Schalke boasted more shots than Dortmund on that day but neither side could find the net.

At home, Lucien Favre's men will be eager to ensure that there won't be a repeat. Dominating possession, as they did 57% to 43% in the reverse fixture, will be towards the top of the priorities list as will outshooting their opponents.

Dortmund sit fourth overall when it comes to average shots on target per game, dropping down to sixth for average shots, but that still leaves them well clear of Schalke who are 16th in both categories.

It's hardly a surprise when you look at the sheer quality in Dortmund's attack. The likes of Jadon Sancho, Julian Brandt, Marco Reus and Thorgan Hazard posed enough of a threat before the January arrival of the prolific Erling Haaland.