Bayern Munich’s ambitions of reaching the Champions League final, set to take place at their Allianz Arena, are facing a severe threat due to a spate of injuries.
As Bayern prepares to confront Inter Milan in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday, they will be without several key first-team players, many of whom are sidelined with long-term injuries.
This predicament has left Bayern in a precarious position as they seek to exorcise the memories of the 2012 Champions League final in Munich, where they suffered a penalty shootout defeat to Chelsea.
On Friday, the club’s midfield maestro Jamal Musiala became the latest addition to Bayern’s ever-growing injury list, suffering a torn hamstring that is expected to keep him on the sidelines until mid-May.
The team’s defence is particularly depleted.
Defenders Alphonso Davies, Dayot Upamecano, and Hiroki Ito are set to miss the remainder of the season due to injuries.
Goalkeeper and captain Manuel Neuer, winger Kingsley Coman, and midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic are also doubts for the match against Inter.
Bayern will need to closely monitor the threats posed by Inter forwards Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez, with only two centre-backs available: Kim Min-Jae, who has been managing an Achilles injury, and seasoned English defender Eric Dier.
‘Finale dahoam’
This year’s Champions League final in Munich, affectionately known as the ‘finale dahoam’ in the local Bavarian dialect, has been a long-held aspiration for Bayern.
Many of Bayern’s significant recent decisions, including the unexpected replacement of Julian Nagelsmann with Thomas Tuchel and their substantial investment to bring in Harry Kane, have been motivated by the desire to secure victory in Munich this May.
However, the six-time champions have had to recalibrate their expectations following a disappointing 2023-24 season, where Bayer Leverkusen clinched both the league and cup titles, leaving Bayern without a trophy for the first time in 11 years.
Vincent Kompany has taken over from Tuchel as head coach.
Uli Hoeness, a key player within the club who remains a prominent figure despite stepping down as President in 2019, indicated to Kicker in February that this season’s emphasis should be on securing the Bundesliga trophy rather than chasing European glory.
“After a challenging 2023/24 season, there’s been too much focus on the Champions League. Winning the German Championship would mean a great deal to me,” said Hoeness.
Nevertheless, with Bayern six points ahead of Leverkusen and only six matches left to play, the focus has shifted back to European competition.
Bayern veteran Thomas Mueller, who announced his departure from the club at the end of the season despite wanting to remain, stated he is intent on helping the team reach the “finale dahoam” in his final weeks at the club.
Amid a stellar season, Kane has also expressed his desire to chase the most prestigious trophy in football.
Having previously battled injuries that hindered his impact in crucial moments, Kane arrives for Tuesday’s match fit and in exceptional form, especially in Champions League play.
Kane was instrumental in Bayern’s last-16 matchup against Bayer Leverkusen, scoring three goals and providing an assist, while constantly applying pressure on the opposition’s defence with his physical presence.
Only Raphinha from Barcelona, with 11 goals, has outscored Kane’s tally of 10 goals in this season’s Champions League.
Following his goal in Bayern’s 3-1 victory over Augsburg on Friday, Kane commented that the team’s injury struggles could strengthen their resolve, adding that Kompany had expected such a scenario.
“From day one, the manager has discussed the importance of squad depth and utilising everyone’s talents.
“We are facing a significant week ahead, and effective rotation will be essential.
“Some players will need to be on the pitch for the full ninety minutes, while others may have to make impactful contributions off the bench. We must stay focused on what we can achieve.
“We are in a good position, with positive momentum, and we need to carry that into Tuesday’s game.”
Kane acknowledged that the Italian champions would present a formidable challenge, but highlighted that Bayern’s victory over defending champions Leverkusen in the previous round served as a “major statement.” He asserted that with the correct mindset and focus, Bayern can pose a threat to any team, Inter included.
“We must remain concentrated and leverage the energy of the home leg to our advantage.“
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
Fanpage: SportArena.com.au.
LiveScore – Live Sports Results & Odds.
