The great “Klassiker” of the Bundesliga, which will be held this Saturday between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, becomes HarryKane's first match as a Ballon d'Or winner. The English striker, who has scored 73 goals last season, arrives with 10 goals in the competition, distributed among 4 in the league, 4 in the Champions League and 2 in the German Cup. Dortmund coach NikoKovács has declared that his team has the formula to try to stop the England captain.
Kovács, who has led Borussia Dortmund since 2025, has urged his players to “work together” to stop Kane, whom he describes as a “sensational” Ballon d'Or winner. The coach emphasizes the need for a collective effort, underlining that only with 11 top players can a favorable result be achieved at the Allianz Arena. “We won't do it one by one, we will have to do it together,” he said, referring to the importance of tactical cohesion compared to Kane's individual talent.
The match comes with both teams tied on 17 points at the top of the table, although Bayern leads on goal difference (+19 versus +8). According to Kovács, this equality makes the classic even more exciting and that the 90 minutes of play must be at maximum power to achieve a good result. Dortmund, meanwhile, have failed to beat Bayern in their last five games, adding an element of challenge to the game.
Kovács recalled the hard work that Kane has had to achieve his title, pointing out that “they did not give him the Ballon d'Or for free” and that since his arrival in Germany in 2023 he has taken a big step forward. The coach also made reference to his own career, recalling having been a Bayern player between 2001 and 2003 and having coached the club in the 2018-19 season, which gives him a unique perspective on the rival.
With the game scheduled for Saturday, Borussia Dortmund is preparing for a confrontation that promises to be decisive both for qualification and for local pride. Kovács' strategy will focus on collective defense and constant pressure on Kane, in the hope that the team can take advantage of the opportunity to score at home and maintain the rivalry at the top of the Bundesliga.