Bayern vs Dortmund: Kane's first game since Ballon d'Or win

German football pauses this Saturday for a Bayern Munich - Borussia Dortmund clash loaded with storylines. Both teams share the Bundesliga summit with 17 points, and the match will also be Harry Kane's first since receiving the Ballon d'Or, an achievement the Allianz Arena is set to celebrate in front of the home crowd.

• Bayern and Borussia Dortmund are tied on 17 points at the top, with the Munich side leading on goal difference.
• Harry Kane plays his first match as Ballon d'Or winner and will be honoured at the Allianz Arena.
• Bayern coach Vincent Kompany remains out with meningitis and his staff have been told not to discuss football with him.
• Dortmund have not beaten Bayern in their last five meetings and are aiming to end that run.
• Konstantinos Karetsas returns to the Dortmund squad after recovering from an ankle injury.

Bundesliga top spot on the line at the Allianz Arena

The top of the German table could hardly be tighter. Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund both have 17 points, but the Bavarian side sit in first place thanks to a clearly superior goal difference: +19 compared to +8 for the Signal Iduna Park club. A home win would consolidate that lead, while an away victory would turn the standings upside down.

Harry Kane honoured after Ballon d'Or triumph

The English striker plays his first official match since being crowned with the Ballon d'Or. The Allianz Arena has prepared a tribute for its champion, who will once again be Bayern's main attacking threat. His presence adds another layer of interest to a fixture that already commands attention across European football.

Kompany remains sidelined as Bayern protect his recovery

Vincent Kompany will not be on the Munich bench. The Belgian coach, affected by meningitis, has already left hospital and continues his recovery at home. Aaron Danks, his assistant, will lead the team again and explained that the club has issued a clear instruction: nobody is allowed to discuss any aspect of the match with Kompany so he can rest as much as possible.

The coach's return is not expected until after the international break, at the earliest. His absence is compounded by the losses of Luis Díaz, Jamal Musiala and Manuel Neuer, three key players who force Bayern to reshape their lineup for a demanding fixture.

Dortmund look to end poor run against Bayern

Borussia Dortmund arrive with a recent burden: they have failed to beat Bayern in their last five meetings. For Niko Kovac, the current Dortmund coach, this match has a special dimension. The manager knows the opposition well, having played for Bayern between 2001 and 2003 and coached them in the 2018-19 season.

To stop Harry Kane, the key is to work together and do it as a team.

That is the approach Kovac takes into a duel against a striker who has just reached the pinnacle with the Ballon d'Or. The good news for Dortmund is the return of Konstantinos Karetsas, the Greek midfielder who suffered an ankle injury on 17 October and is now available for the match.

How to watch Bayern vs Borussia Dortmund live

The Klassiker takes place this Saturday at the Allianz Arena in Munich. The match belongs to the Bundesliga fixture list and pits the two teams level on 17 points at the top against each other. Television coverage depends on the broadcasters holding the rights to the German championship in each territory.