There are positive signs from the Säbener Straße for Vincent Kompany shortly before the final league match of the Champions League phase. Two days before the away match at PSV Eindhoven, several injured professionals have returned to training,most notably Dayot Upamecano
The centre-back has recovered from his viral infection and completed a full training session with the team for the first time on Monday afternoon. After missing two competitive matches, the 27-year-old returned to the pitch without any restrictions and played a full part in all forms of the game. His condition suggests that he could be available in time for the game in Eindhoven – replacing Minjae Kim, who is suspended following his yellow card against Union Saint-Gilloise
On Friday, Kompany had declared before the defeat against Augsburg: „Upa is still in bed for a few days.“ One day later, Upamecano watched the game from the stands. While the team was off training on Sunday, the defender was already working individually on his return and completed a fitness programme with athletics coach Quirin Löppert. The rapid development comes earlier than expected for Bayern
Boey returns after illness
Sacha Boey is also back on the pitch. The right-back took part in a training session under Kompany for the first time since 3 January. The Frenchman had been struggling with a persistent stomach bug for weeks. Sporting director Max Eberl recently explained: „Stomach bug, influenza, he really had the whole range. He lost a lot of weight due to the illness. He is now slowly building up and then we’ll see what happens.“ Eberl deliberately did not give a specific timetable at the time: „I honestly don’t have an exact time frame for this.“
However, it is highly unlikely that Boey will be an option again against Eindhoven. After more than seven weeks without a competitive match and numerous missed training sessions, the focus is likely to initially be on a careful build-up
Stanisic can train individually
The third positive signal concerns Josip Stanisic. The 25-year-old completed an individual session on the pitch again for the first time on Monday morning. Two weeks after his capsular ligament injury in his right ankle, the full-back worked with rehabilitation coach Benjamin Sommer on sprints at different speeds and on passing exercises over various distances. His comeback is still planned for early to mid-February
This development comes at the right time for FC Bayern, as the personnel situation is gradually easing, particularly in defense – and Vincent Kompany will have significantly more options ahead of the upcoming tasks.
