In the Telekom Cup match between FC Bayern and RB Leipzig at the Allianz Arena, the record champions faced a real test of their mettle just before the start of competitive play in the new season.
During the match, Konrad Laimer, FC Bayern’s Austrian right back, had to be substituted early on after taking a blow to the knee. With a pained expression on his face, he was helped off the field by medical staff and headed straight to the locker room.
It’s not yet clear how badly he was injured. At first, it looked more like a blow that could result in a bruise or a contusion, but of course that’s not certain until the official diagnosis is available.
Kim also had to come off
At FC Bayern, the hope is that there will finally be fewer injury problems this season. In recent years, players have often been sidelined because they’ve had to deal with muscle injuries or even more serious injuries.
In addition to Laimer, Minjae Kim—who had been performing well in preseason—also had to leave the field early against Leipzig. During the second half, he sat down on the ground near the midfield line and was also holding his thigh and knee area.
The FC Bayern medical staff quickly treated the South Korean player, partially bandaging his leg. He was able to leave the field on his own two feet, though his gait was a bit unsteady. As part of a series of substitutions, Japanese player Hiroki Ito came on to replace him.
Of course, there is no final diagnosis for Kim yet; he will be examined shortly. A loss of Kim would certainly be a bitter blow, as Dayot Upamecano won’t return to training until next week and is unlikely to play a key role in the Super Cup.
Alternatives would be Ito, who replaced Kim against Leipzig, or Josip Stanisic, who can play in central midfield.