FC Bayern will continue to be without Manuel Neuer. After sitting out the Champions League match against Viking Stavanger, the 40-year-old also missed the top Bundesliga match against RB Leipzig. The captain of the record-holding champions is struggling with foot problems. It remains to be seen whether he will return in time for the crucial Champions League matchup against Arsenal.
Neuer most recently made headlines with a costly mistake in the 2-2 draw against FC Augsburg. Just eight seconds into the game, Munich conceded a goal, and the veteran goalkeeper did not come out looking good.
The Bayern goalkeeper was then sidelined due to injury. Because Neuer also missed the final training session before the Leipzig game, concerns about his health have recently grown.
Coach Vincent Kompany has not yet publicly disclosed a specific diagnosis.
Kompany Gives the All-Clear on Neuer
Ahead of the Bundesliga clash with RB Leipzig, Kompany was therefore asked on Sky whether the Bayern captain might be facing a prolonged forced absence.
The Belgian remained calm and tried to allay concerns about his starting goalkeeper. “We’re not worried. But when you play every three days, you end up missing several games in a row. That’s what happened to Manu, but we’re not worried about it,” explained the Bayern coach.
The heavy workload caused by the tightly packed schedule means that even a short injury can affect several competitive matches.
However, Kompany did not provide a specific timeline for Neuer’s return.
The Arsenal match remains a race against time for Neuer
Next Wednesday, FC Bayern will host Arsenal in the Champions League. For the Munich team, it’s one of the most important games of the season so far.
The plan is for Neuer to be back between the posts against the Londoners. Whether that actually happens, however, depends on how his recovery progresses.
If the 40-year-old isn’t fit in time, Jonas Urbig is likely to start again.
The 23-year-old has already filled in for Neuer against Viking Stavanger and RB Leipzig. Despite the recent injuries, however, Kompany says an early change in goal for Bayern is out of the question. “We have a clear plan in goal and have communicated that. That’s how it will remain,” the coach clarified.