FC Bayern can breathe a sigh of relief ahead of their crucial Champions League away match against Atlético Madrid. Michael Olise appears to be on the verge of a surprisingly quick return. After the Frenchman had to be substituted due to injury during the Bundesliga showdown against Borussia Dortmund, there are now strong indications that the 24-year-old will be available again on Tuesday evening.
There had been serious concerns about the star attacker in recent days. Olise injured his right knee during the 2-2 draw against BVB and had to leave the field early. Given the team’s already tight roster situation, another absence would have been particularly bitter for Munich.
As recently as Monday, interim coach Aaron Danks had left the winger’s availability up in the air. Now, however, there is positive news from Madrid: Olise took part in the mandatory warm-up session on Tuesday afternoon ahead of the Champions League match.
Olise sends an important signal ahead of the Atlético match
His participation in the warm-up session is a clear indication that the French international could be fit in time.
Olise had already taken part in Bayern’s final training session on Monday. Nevertheless, club officials initially wanted to wait and see how his knee would react to the strain. “It’s good news that Michael Olise took part in training today. Now we have to see how he responds to it,” Danks explained at the press conference ahead of the Atlético match.
Sports Director Max Eberl also emphasized that the final decision will not be made until game day.
The Munich club doesn’t want to take any unnecessary risks with its star forward and is determined to prevent his symptoms from worsening.
The fact that Olise was able to complete the activation session is a sign of positive progress.
However, official confirmation of his participation is still pending.
Starting lineup or substitute? Danks must decide
It therefore remains to be seen whether Olise will return directly to the starting lineup or start on the bench. For Bayern, the mere fact that he’s available to play would be a huge relief.
With Ismael Saibari, Serge Gnabry, Luis Díaz, and Jamal Musiala sidelined, the German record champions are currently missing several key offensive players.
That’s precisely why Olise takes on special significance in the match against Atlético. The Frenchman is one of Munich’s most important creative players and, with his individual talents, can make the difference at any moment.
Bayern Munich is also under considerable pressure on the field. Following two Champions League draws against Viking Stavanger and Arsenal, the team desperately needs a win to avoid falling further behind in the race for direct qualification to the Round of 16.
The final decision is likely to be made when the official lineup is announced. Until then, there is at least hope that the Frenchman will be able to return to the field after missing the Dortmund match due to injury.