FC Bayern before Leverkusen hit
Ailing newcomer misses the start of Week of Truth
February 6, 2024, 5:02 p.m
Manuel Neuer has to take a break when FC Bayern starts their Leverkusen preparations. A new addition is also missing. With two injuries, coach Tuchel can hope for a return. Will the trainer take risks and allow Bayern to be taken by surprise like BVB in October?
The birthday trellis for Leon Goretzka took place without the ailing Manuel Neuer. The national goalkeeper was not on the training pitch at the start of preparation for the Bundesliga top game at Bayer Leverkusen. According to Bayern, the captain had to take a break after two days off due to only “mild” knee problems – the 37-year-old absolutely wants to be between the posts in the trend-setting league summit on the Rhine.
“A big highlight,” said Neuer about the game with the character of a final, in which the Munich team wants to take over the top of the table with a win. Neuer made his comeback at the end of October after a long injury break after breaking his lower leg. Sven Ulreich was convincing as a representative. He would also be a replacement for the weekend in the event of Neuer’s failure.
Whether Dayot Upamecano (torn muscle fiber in the left rear thigh) and Joshua Kimmich (shoulder injury) are also working on their comeback for the game on Saturday (6.30 p.m./Sky and in the live ticker on ntv.de) can take a place in the squad is still open. Coach Thomas Tuchel was able to observe promising movements at the club’s premises during the next individual session between the two top performers. Kimmich also paid attention to the damaged shoulder.
BVB was overwhelmed with returnees
Will Tuchel take the risk again from the Dortmund game when the personnel shortage was even more serious? Before the first half of the season at Borussia, Upamecano (thigh strain) and Goretzka (broken hand) were out. Both had a successful 0-to-100 start – and Bayern won 4-0 at the beginning of November. This time Goretzka, who was in a good mood in the Munich sunshine on his 29th birthday, can look forward to the next top game in a healthier way.
Whether midfield boss Kimmich and central defender Upamecano really become an alternative for the squad or even more depends on further training impressions and the time of return to team training. Tuchel had announced a decision for “mid-week”.
The 50-year-old Munich coach has had enough failures to complain about these weeks. He will have to do without Alphonso Davies, Kingsley Coman, Konrad Laimer, Bouna Sarr, substitute goalkeeper Daniel Peretz and Serge Gnabry at the BayArena. Central defender Minjae Kim is still missing because of the Asian Cup participation with South Korea. The attacking player Bryan Zaragoza, signed by FC Granada, had to sit out on Tuesday due to a flu-like infection, but should be able to be in the squad if he recovers normally.
Talent delivered to Austria
“Everyone who wears the Bayern jersey is waiting for games like this,” said Neuer recently. “The anticipation is great.” Series champions like him or Thomas Müller in particular know what qualities are important in these duels. “The game against Leverkusen is a blast. So these are real weeks of truth,” announced Müller. Next week there is still the first leg of the round of 16 at Lazio Rome.
But first of all, the league counts. In the table, the Munich team are second, two points behind Leverkusen, who are still unbeaten in the Bundesliga season. “Leverkusen are playing an outstanding round, but when you look in the rearview mirror, they are only two points ahead. We are there, we want to prove that,” said Tuchel.
Frans Krätzig is no longer there. The left-back was loaned to Austria Vienna on Tuesday until the summer. The 21-year-old is supposed to gain match practice there.