Joshua Kimmich is back at Säbener Straße after taking time off due to a bereavement. This raises hopes for his return against Dortmund.
Good news for FC Bayern ahead of the Bundesliga classic against Borussia Dortmund: Joshua Kimmich has returned to Säbener Straße and is back in training. The defensive midfielder had recently taken a break due to a bereavement in his immediate family and missed three competitive matches.
Kimmich was unavailable for the Munich side in both the 2-2 Champions League draw against Arsenal and the Bundesliga match against SC Freiburg. The 31-year-old also missed the 6-1 DFB-Pokal victory over 1. FC Magdeburg. FC Bayern had given its star player all the time he needed from the very beginning to cope with this difficult situation.
Even before the cup match, sporting director Max Eberl had emphasized that Kimmich alone would determine the timing of his return. “If Jo feels like he can clear his head again, then he’s always welcome back,” Eberl explained. At the same time, the Bayern boss had expressed hope that this would happen soon.
Now the national team player has rejoined the squad. For Bayern, this sends an important signal ahead of Saturday’s showdown with BVB. Whether Kimmich will return directly to the starting lineup after his break, however, remains to be seen.
Kimmich Once Again an Option for the BVB Showdown
During his absence, Aleksandar Pavlovic and Tom Bischof, in particular, had taken on roles in central midfield. Against Dortmund, Kimmich could now once again bring additional quality, experience, and presence to the midfield. Especially in a top-of-the-table clash, his return would be of great sporting significance for Munich.
The club has repeatedly emphasized in recent days that the midfielder’s personal situation takes priority. Assistant coach Aaron Danks explained even before the Freiburg game: “He’s still spending time with his family right now. That’s the most important thing for him.” Eberl had also emphasized that Kimmich would get “exactly the time he needs.”
His return to Säbener Straße now shows that the next step has been taken. While there’s still no guarantee he’ll play against Dortmund, the chances of a comeback in the “Klassiker” have increased significantly.
For FC Bayern, the news comes at a crucial time. After their commanding victory in the DFB Cup, the next major challenge awaits on Saturday against Borussia Dortmund. Whether Kimmich will be back in the starting lineup for that match should be decided during the remaining training sessions.