Borussia Dortmund head into one of the season's biggest tests in strong but imperfect form, with a Bundesliga summit clash against Bayern Munich on Saturday providing the clearest measure yet of where Niko Kovac's side truly stand. The two clubs are level on 17 points, separated only by goal difference, making the Allianz Arena fixture a genuine title statement opportunity for the visitors.

The build-up has been shaped by a dramatic DFB-Pokal win over Werder Bremen on Tuesday. Dortmund led 2-0 before Niclas Füllkrug pulled Bremen level with a second-half brace, only for Marcel Sabitzer to score a late winner and secure a 3-2 victory. The match was not without controversy: Kovac publicly challenged referee Robert Schröder over a penalty awarded to Bremen, confronting him directly after the final whistle. The win, though, keeps Dortmund alive in both major domestic competitions.

Squad depth remains a concern. Felix Nmecha has struggled for consistency this season and was substituted before the hour mark against Frankfurt the previous weekend. Emre Can, Giannis Konstantelias and Justin Lerma are all unavailable through injury. Ramy Bensebaini, who performed well in recent appearances, is suspended for one match after a red card in the Supercup. Meanwhile, reports link the club to Polish midfielder Marcel Regula as a potential January signing, suggesting recruitment planning is already under way.

With Bayern also dealing with the absence of coach Vincent Kompany through illness, Saturday's Klassiker carries extra intrigue on both sides.