Pure tradition: Borussia Dortmund and VfB Stuttgart will go head-to-head for Bundesliga points for the 107th time on Saturday (kick-off at 18:30 CET). Historically, no other Bundesliga pairing has been as high-scoring as this one, with 363 goals scored. The facts preview.

The scenario: Fourth against third. A BVB win would move them to within one point of VfB and turn a two-way battle (with Leipzig) for a Champions League berth into a three-way battle for two places. The first two meetings with the Swabians this season ended in defeat (2-1 in the reverse fixture and 2-0 in the cup), with both match-ups taking place in Stuttgart. BVB have suffered defeat in only one of their last 19 clashes in Dortmund. Last season there was a clear 5-0 win.

Home/away: BVB have eight home points fewer on the board than at the same stage of last season and only occupy fifth place in the home table (eight victories, two draws and three defeats). VfB will make the trip on the back of four away victories in a row (club record) and sit in fourth position in the away table (eight wins and five defeats) – the Swabians are yet to draw an away match this season.

Head-to-head record: BVB have won 13 of their last 17 Bundesliga matches against VfB, during which time there have always been at least three goals – with one exception. Stuttgart used to be a bogey team, hence why the overall record is only even (41 wins and 41 defeats). The Swabians have conceded seven goals in a league match on only one occasion – in a 7-1 loss in Dortmund on 14 March 1964. The last eight meetings at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK have produced a tidy 37 goals – an average of almost five per game (26-11 in BVB’s favour). VfB have drawn a blank in Dortmund more often than anywhere else (12 times).

Statistics: Borussia Dortmund have lost only one of their last 16 competitive games and have won each of the last five. VfB are unbeaten in nine matches on the bounce for the first time since 2012, recording seven wins and two draws.

Biggest victory: 7-1 was the score on 14 March 1964 – in the first Bundesliga season. Timo Konietzka netted four times in front of the 28,000 spectators at Stadion Rote Erde! The remaining goals were scored by Lothar Emmerich (2) and Franz Brungs. Rolf Geiger had temporarily levelled at 1-1 for VfB.
Compiled by Boris Rupert