Derbies between the Black & Yellow reserves and their Royal Blue counterparts returned to the Regionalliga West last season, following the Gelsenkirchen outfit's promotion from the Oberliga Westfalen. The next U23 derby will take place at the tradition-steeped Parkstadion in Gelsenkirchen at 13:00 CET on Saturday (21/11).

BVB lost 5-1 at home in the first meeting between the teams last season, with the return fixture called off due to the corona pandemic. "The matches against Schalke are always a special occasion. We've dominated and won these meetings in the Regionalliga over the years, with the exception of last year," said Ingo Preuß. "They're always difficult games. Both we and the opposition will be really up for it. We're looking forward to the match." The U23 Team Manager has more experience of the derby than most and has fond memories of some of the recent meetings in the Regionalliga.

He's also satisfied with the Black & Yellows' current campaign, which has produced nine wins and two draws from 11 games. It's BVB's best start to a season in the Regionalliga West since its inception in 2008. The hosts are seventh in the table. Coach Torsten Fröhling's team have five wins, six draws and three defeats on the board after 14 matches. 

"We just need to go into games with a burning ambition to win and not take the approach that we will wait and see what the opposition does. We always try to implement the coach's plan. You can see that in many areas," said Preuß, who is looking ahead to the clash on Saturday with optimism. "If the lads show the same desire they have in the last few games, it's going to be very difficult to beat us."

BVB TV by 1&1 will broadcast the game from the Parkstadion in Gelsenkirchen live at 13:00 CET. (tl)