FC Bayern’s goalkeeping situation is coming to a head again – ahead of the Champions League clash against Real Madrid. Jonas Urbig’s injury is causing fresh concerns at Säbener Straße
What was actually considered a luxury problem is suddenly threatening to become a real risk. With Manuel Neuer, Jonas Urbig and Sven Ulreich, Munich nominally have a strong trio of goalkeepers – but all three are currently injured or unavailable
Jonas Urbig had to leave the national team early due to a capsule injury in his right knee. Even if national coach Julian Nagelsmann speaks of a precautionary measure, the uncertainty remains great, as the Abendzeitung München reports
This setback comes at a particularly bad time for FC Bayern, as Urbig was recently considered a realistic option for the upcoming games – now his fitness is also questionable
Neuer? Urbig? Prescott?
The situation of the other two keepers adds to the worries: Sven Ulreich is definitely out for the rest of the season with a torn muscle bundle
There is also still a big question mark over Manuel Neuer. The 40-year-old is struggling to make his comeback after tearing several muscle fibres. Whether he will be fit in time is currently completely open
This brings into focus a scenario that was already being discussed before the CL second leg against Atalanta Bergamo. In the worst-case scenario, FC Bayern could have to fall back on 16-year-old Leonard Prescott in the quarter-finals of the Champions League
A debut in one of the biggest games of the season – at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu of all places – would be an extreme challenge
According to AZ, the next few days will be decisive, with Neuer in particular hoping for a quick return to avoid a goalkeeping emergency in the most important game of the season.