FC Bayern had to do without Konrad Laimer at the last minute during their 7-0 rout of Union Berlin. The Austrian complained of problems in his left adductor region and was therefore, surprisingly, left out of the lineup. After the game, sporting director Max Eberl provided an initial update.
“It doesn’t seem to be that bad. Nothing serious,” Eberl explained after the goal fest at the Allianz Arena.
As a result, there are currently strong indications that Laimer won’t face a prolonged absence. However, there is no precise diagnosis or specific timeline for his return.
The 29-year-old’s absence came as quite a surprise. As recently as Thursday, Vincent Kompany had stated that, in principle, all players were available to him. It wasn’t until Friday morning that the situation with Laimer changed.
Bayern didn’t want to take any risks with Laimer
Even before the Union game, Kompany had explained that the medical staff had advised against him playing.
“I haven’t given the national team much thought yet. We received the information this morning that we shouldn’t take too many risks with Konny. That’s completely normal at this stage of the season. Hopefully, he’ll be back soon.”
Against Union, Josip Stanišić took over the right-back position. Laimer’s absence didn’t have a noticeable impact on the team’s performance, given the decisive 7-0 victory.
Nevertheless, the Austrian is an important part of the squad for Kompany. His versatility allows the Bayern coach to deploy Laimer both at right back and in central midfield.
The fact that Munich didn’t take any risks at the first sign of discomfort is likely also related to the upcoming international break. Bayern won’t play any competitive matches for several weeks, giving Laimer additional time to recover.
Laimer will miss at least two international matches
Nevertheless, the injury will not be without consequences. The Austrian Football Association has already announced that Laimer will definitely miss the first two matches of the upcoming international break.
Whether the 29-year-old will be able to rejoin the Austrian national team afterward will depend on his recovery progress.
For FC Bayern, however, the priority for now is his full recovery. After the international break, Kompany’s team faces an intense schedule in the Bundesliga, Champions League, and DFB Cup.
That’s precisely when Laimer’s versatility could prove particularly important. Eberl’s initial assessment at least offers hope that the Austrian could be available again in time.
A final medical prognosis is still pending. However, Eberl already delivered the most important news after the Union game: As things stand, it apparently isn’t “nothing serious.”