Borussia Dortmund

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Bielefeld Means Mileage Money - But The Points Usually Stay "At The Alm"

[20.02.] Trivia quiz: What do Theo Bücker (57) and Lars Ricken (29) have in common? Answer: They are the only BVB players who have scored winning goals at Bielefeld. Bücker scored the winning goal in a 3-2 victory in 1971 and Ricken was responsible a 2-0 victory in 1999, the last BVB win at Bielefeld.

Last BVB player to wrap up a win at Bielefeld (in 1999): Lars Ricken.
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At the offices of public broadcaster WDR in Köln (Cologne), they say "Bielefeld means mileage money", because the trip out to Ostwestfalen (Eastern Westphalia) can be a long one. For Borussia Dortmund, it is a bit closer, but the points usually stay out of reach. BVB has traveled to Bielefeld 13 times and has come home with eight defeats, three draws and only two wins.

Often enough, BVB not only lost the points, but also key players. Matthias Sammer played his last match on in a 1-3 BVB loss on October 4, 1997 at Bielefeld. In the same match, Uwe Fuchs took out Lars Ricken with an ugly tackle - Ricken was subsequently out for months with a multiple ligament tear.

This Saturday, Borussia will undertake a new attempt to "climb the Alm" (Arminia´s Schüco Arena used to be called "Alm", a German term for a green pasture in the mountains), which is not an easy task. Borussia´s UEFA Cup spot contenders Hertha BSC Berlin and VfB Stuttgart were recently sent home empty-handed by the home team DSC Arminia Bielefeld.

STADIUM
SchücoArena (Formerly known as the "Bielefelder Alm") - 26,601 capacity, (11,150 standing)

HOW TO GET THERE FROM DORTMUND
Autobahn: Take A2 to exit "Bielefeld-Sennestadt", then direction Brackwede/Osnabrück, after 6 kms take "Ostwestfalendamm" direction Zentrum, then follow the sign-posting to "Schüco Arena" (only very limited parking near the stadium).
Train: regular and direct service with RE- and ICE-trains. Travel time: 0:47 to 1:03 hours. From Bielefeld Hauptbahnhof (Central Station), take tram #3 to stops "Wittekindstraße" or "Nordpark".

Internet: www.arminia-bielefeld.de

STATISTICS

Home: 10-2-2 (W-D-L) with a goal difference of 39-10
Away: 2-3-8 (W-D-L) with a goal difference of 11-21
Total: 27 matches played, 12-5-10 (W-D-L) with a goal difference of 50-31

Highest victory: 11-1 (home) on November 6, 1982
Highest defeat: 0-3 (away) on February 16, 1985

Reporters in Bielefeld are Constantin Blass (left) und Boris Rupert (right).

FACTS
In the last 10 matches between the clubs, the record is even: 4 wins, 3 draws and 4 defeats. +++ BVB scores fewer goals against Bielefeld than against any other team (.8 per match). +++ BVB have not scored in 6 ove the last 8 matches in Bielefeld. +++ Borussia only has a worse away record against Bremen and Stuttgart.

NETRADIO
BORUSSIA Netradio will cover the match on February 25th from 3:25 PM CET at www.bvb.de/netradio live from Bielefeld. Reporters are Boris Rupert and Constantin Blass.

Translated by Chris Schuepp.