Harry Kane overtakes Ronaldo, Lukaku in Golden boot race

Saturday's "Der Klassiker" between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will unusually not be about controlling the title race or taking over the top spot in the German Bundesliga.

The two teams between them have won the last 14 league titles, but when the Bavarians host Dortmund at the Allianz Arena, each will be trying to save their domestic season.

Bayern are currently in second place on 60 points, a massive 10 behind Bayer Leverkusen, but have not yet given up on a record-extending 12th successive league crown.

However, no Bundesliga club has ever made up such a deficit at this stage of the season, and coach Thomas Tuchel's squad is also struggling with injuries.

Top striker Harry Kane was back in training on Wednesday after recovering from an ankle injury in a league game two weeks ago that ruled him out of two England friendlies.

The England captain, who joined for a Bundesliga record 100 million euros from Tottenham Hotspur this season in search of trophies, has already netted 31 times in the league and looks set to return on Saturday.

Keeper Manuel Neuer, however, is unlikely to be fit in time after picking up an adductor muscle injury while training with the Germany squad.

He completed an individual training session on Wednesday, along with teenager Aleksandar Pavlovic, who missed the Germany matches with tonsillitis.

Dortmund for their part are at risk of missing out on the top four finish that would give automatic qualification for next season's UEFA Champions League.

The Ruhr Valley club are currently fourth on 50 points, one ahead of RB Leipzig, who take on Mainz 05.

Dortmund have their own absences against Bayern, with first-choice keeper Gregor Kobel ill and midfielder Marcel Sabitzer suspended.

Stuttgart, in third place on 56, face Heidenheim, while Leverkusen, unbeaten across all competitions this season, host Hoffenheim.

Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane said he is enjoying every moment as he aims to break more records in Germany after scoring a record setting hat-trick in Bayern's 8-1 thrashing of Mainz 05 on Saturday.

The England captain became the first player to score four hat-tricks in his first Bundesliga season as the champions cut the gap on leaders Bayer Leverkusen to seven points.

The 30-yea-old has scored 36 goals for Bayern across all competitions this season. He equalled Uwe Seeler's record for most goals in a debut Bundesliga campaign by lifting his tally to 30.

Kane is also inching closer to breaking Robert Lewandowski's record for the most goals scored in a single Bundesliga season, which the Polish forward set by ending the 2020-21 campaign with 41 goals.

"I am enjoying this feeling, I am enjoying playing every match for the club," Kane told reporters on Saturday when asked how he felt breaking records in Germany.

"Plenty of games left, I am hoping I will break the (30 goals) record for sure. People expect me to score goals and hopefully, I will deliver.

"Leverkusen are favourites to win the league. We have to try and win all of the games left as this is the business end of the season."

Kane said Bayern need to keep the pressure up on Leverkusen, hoping the title-rivals will drop points in their remaining 10 league games.

Bayern are into the Champions League quarter-finals and are placed second in the Bundesliga on 57 points. They visit bottom side Darmstadt 98 in a league game on Saturday.

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic is prepared to make changes for Sunday's World Cup final against France if some of his players have not recovered from their exertions in reaching football's biggest game.

Dalic's men have been forced to go through three periods of extra-time against Denmark, Russia and England to become the smallest country in 68 years to make the final.

"Tomorrow is the World Cup final. Simply, the players know what that is," Dalic said on Saturday.

"One thing that brings me happiness is that all my players tell me if they are not 100 percent fit. They will concede and say they are not fit. They know what is at stake, but if they are unable to give their all they will tell us. They have such an attitude."

Ivan Perisic, who scored and set up Mario Mandzukic's winner in a 2-1 semi-final win over England, was among five Croatian players to miss training on Friday.

"We have nothing to train. We need relaxation and rest to gain freshness for tomorrow. We have some minor injuries, minor problems, and I hope my players will be ready. If not, I have great players on the bench who will be raring to go."

Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus said on Monday it is unfair to compare his lacklustre goal-scoring record to Harry Kane because the Bayern Munich star is the "best finisher in the world".

Kane is back in north London for the first time since leaving Tottenham last year as Bayern prepare for Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg at Arsenal.

Tottenham's record scorer has maintained his predatory instincts in Germany, netting 38 times in all competitions despite Bayern's underwhelming performances this season.

In stark contrast to Kane's prolific form, Jesus has scored just eight times for Premier League leaders Arsenal this term and only once in his last 10 games in all competitions.

However, Jesus has often been deployed on the wing instead of in a central striker's role and the Brazil international feels he offers alternative qualities to Kane.

"Even if I'm playing in the position like they play in every game, I think it's unfair to compare because we are different types of player," Jesus told reporters.

"Not many people want to look at the game like that. I have played this season maybe 40 per cent on the wing.

"People only want to know the result and if I score or not. That's football today.

"People want stats. It's not only with me but with a lot of strikers. I will never complain or compare with someone, I will always try to work.

"Everyone here knows the quality of Harry Kane. For me personally, he's the best finisher in the world."

Arsenal have reached the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in 14 years, while also taking pole position in their chase for a first Premier League title since 2004.

Jesus is content to set aside his ego in order to aid the Gunners' pursuit of domestic and European glory.

"This part of the season, you don't have to think about yourself, you have to think about the team," he said.

"I just want to win. I want to be on the pitch of course but this part of the season you have to put away your ego and help the team."

France have shut out all the euphoria back home over their run to the World Cup final in order to play a perfect match against Croatia on Sunday, France captain Hugo Lloris said.

The goalkeeper said the team were not being swept up by the wave of celebrations back home and were keeping their focus firmly on their shot of earning a second World Cup title after 1998 when they take on the Croatians in Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium.

"To be honest we are in our little bubble and we don't know what is happening in France," Lloris told reporters on Saturday.

"We are far from thinking that we have reached our goal. We will face a high-quality opponent and they deserve as much credit as we do.

"They have displayed their physical and mental strengths and tomorrow we will need a great French team to win."

France have never needed to go beyond 90 minutes in their run to the final after beating Argentina in the round of 16, Uruguay in the last eight and Belgium in the semi-finals.

But Croatia had to battle from a goal down in all three of their knockout matches to beat Denmark, Russia and England.

They played extra time in all of them and needed penalties against the Danes and hosts Russia.

"Croatia have shown their mental strength which is quite incredible. They have managed to qualify after extra time three times in a row. There is something special in this team," Lloris warned.

"They also have an incredible collective strength. We have a lot of respect for them. We need to perform at a high level and deliver a perfect match to win," said the keeper.

France are in their third World Cup final after winning in 1998 and losing to Italy in 2006. They also reached the Euro final on home soil two years ago only to lose to Portugal.

Lloris said that defeat was not on their minds any longer, with many current players not part of the 2016 team.

"I think that our team is quite calm. I do not really know if we realise how far we have come but it is better that way," Lloris said. "We have this inner strength from the beginning of the tournament with which we can overcome any challenge."

"Tomorrow will be the most important match of our career. It will be a special match because it is a World Cup final and we have to stay in our bubble to focus on the ultimate goal."