This archive report was first published on 16 May 2020.
On February 18, 2020, Borussia Dortmund's Erling Braut Haaland celebrated a match against Paris St Germain at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany.
As the German Bundesliga returns behind locked doors, Borussia Dortmund's young stars Erling Braut Haaland and Jadon Sancho will be hunting more goals in an empty Signal Iduna Park against Schalke in what has been dubbed the 'most unusual derby in history.'
Normally, a home derby against Schalke comes alive 'through the fans, from their emotions, from the enthusiasm in the stadium,' according to former Dortmund captain Sebastian Kehl, as quoted in German daily Welt. However, the stadium will be near-empty with only a handful of media and officials admitted, including national team coach Joachim Loew.
Former Dortmund captain Sebastian Kehl noted that the players will miss the chance for extra motivation by the fans and the atmosphere. 'The players will miss the chance for extra motivation by the fans and the atmosphere,' Kehl admitted.
The pressure is on Haaland, 19, and Sancho, 20, to continue their goal-rich partnership, despite the empty terraces, and steer injury-depleted Dortmund to victory. Midfield enforcers Emre Can and Axel Witsel are out with muscle strains, while playmaker Marco Reus is recovering from a groin problem.
