Schalke, Dortmund set for Ruhr derby

Gelsenkirchen, Germany (Sports Network) - Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was upset about blowing a lead in Sunday's loss to Wolfsburg, but admits it's time to "forget about the defeat now because all that counts is the derby."

Borussia Dortmund visits the Veltins-Arena on Friday for the Ruhr derby, which takes on added significance with both clubs in the top five. Schalke currently holds third place and the last Champions League berth, while Dortmund sits six points back in fifth.

"Dortmund are definitely one of our rivals for third place," Neuer said. "I reckon Jurgen Klopp's team will be there or thereabouts at the top come the end of the season - although hopefully behind us."

Despite falling to Wolfsburg 2-1, Schalke is only four behind Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich, which are level on points atop the Bundesliga.

The Royal Blues would love to snap a more than 50-year title drought, but know the main goal is to remain in the top three to qualify for Europe's elite club event.

Schalke has secured third thanks to its recent home form, which includes a run of six straight wins without conceding a goal. Neuer, a candidate to start for Germany in this summer's World Cup, anchors the defense with a league-leading 12 shutouts.

Marcelo Bordon anchors the defense in front of Neuer and the group has allowed just 17 goals this season - a Bundesliga low.

On the opposite end, Kevin Kuranyi continues to show the form that earned him a role with Germany's national team in the past. Kuranyi is the second leading scorer in the Bundesliga with 12 goals. He has six in his last nine games.

Schalke boss Felix Magath is obviously pleased with the team's home form, and could earn 200th Bundesliga victory against Dortmund.

"This game is not about me, it's about FC Schalke 04. And I don't really pay much attention to statistics," said Magath.

"But if it comes to pass, I'll obviously be delighted."

Magath's path to the milestone may be a little easier with Dortmund's Lucas Barrios sidelined through yellow card accumulation. Barrios has 11 goals this season, but Magath was hesitant to look at his absence as an advantage.

"I don't know whether that's necessarily an advantage for us," Magath said. "It's not something you can predict."

Nelson Valdez and Mohamed Zidan will team with Barrios out, and the duo has seven goals in 40 combined matches. Valdez has scored two of his four goals in the last four matches.

Dortmund boss Klopp also has Mats Hummels lurking in the back. The center back has six goals, and is always a threat on set pieces.

Although Borussia dropped the first meeting this season in Dortmund, Klopp was pleased with his team's performance.

"We certainly were not worse than Schalke," Klopp said of the 1-0 defeat. "We were caught on the break once and that was all Schalke needed to win it."

On Saturday, Bayer Leverkusen will try to hold onto the top spot - it leads on goal differential - when it hosts struggling Koln, Werder Bremen visits Mainz, Eintracht visits Stuttgart, Hoffenheim visits Hertha Berlin, Nurnberg visits Bochum, and Freiburg visits Monchengladbach.

On Sunday, Hamburg visits Bayern in a clash of top-four clubs, and Wolfsburg visits Hannover.