Champions League – FC Bayern: Neuer against Salzburg before returning – Goretzka with “good progress”
Munich (SID) – Bayern Munich’s captain Manuel Neuer is about to return in the round of 16 second leg in the Champions League. Coach Julian Nagelsmann ruled out the goalkeeper in the top Bundesliga game against Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday (3:30 p.m. / Sky).
The party against RB Salzburg on (9 p.m. / Amazon Prime) is “a goal,” said Nagelsmann on Tuesday. But we still have to wait and see how the operated knee will react until then. Neuer trained with the team again for the first time on Friday. “It looks good. We’re extremely well within the time window, but it’s not an option for Saturday,” said Nagelsmann.
In addition to Neuer, the suspended Lucas Hernandez and the ailing Corentin Tolisso, Alphonso Davies and Leon Goretzka were also absent.
Nagelsmann gave hope to Goretzka. The national player, who has been missing for weeks due to problems with the patellar tendon, is making “good progress, he is mostly pain-free”. Goretzka may be able to complete part of the team training again in a week or two.
Davies should have a final check-up on Friday after a heart attack. But for now it is “not an issue yet. It has to be built up, it will take time”.
Thomas Müller (after a corona infection), Marcel Sabitzer (after a cold), Niklas Süle (back), Bouna Sarr (patellar tendon) and Josip Stanisic (torn muscle bundle) are definitely ready to play against Leverkusen.