UEFA Champions League: Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer a doubt for second leg after injuring himself celebrating
ByOli Gent
Updated 06/03/2025 at 11:08 GMT
Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is a real doubt for his side's UEFA Champions League last-16 second leg against Bayer Leverkusen after he injured himself celebrating. Bayern won the first leg of the tie 3-0 at Allianz Arena against the Bundesliga champions, but Neuer hurt his right calf when celebrating Jamal Musiala's second-half strike. He was replaced by new signing Jonas Urbig.
Concern for Bayern as Neuer forced off injured, hands armband to Kimmich
Video credit: TNT Sports
Manuel Neuer was forced off injured during Bayern Munich's 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Champions League, but the way he sustained the injury was a strange one.
The goalkeeper, now 38, appeared to hurt himself while celebrating Jamal Musiala's goal that put Bayern 2-0 up on the night against the Bundesliga champions, jarring his right calf.
He gestured over to the home bench to signal that he was in no fit state to continue, and he was replaced by new signing Jonas Urbig, the January arrival from Koln, who incidentally made his debut for the club.
Bayern manager Vincent Kompany said after the game that he had "no news" about his goalkeeper, but confirmed that he had hurt himself celebrating.
"In this moment, I have no news about Manuel," the Belgian said. "But it's true that when he celebrated the goal, he injured himself. It looks like his calf, but we will have to see now.
"I don't want to put too much pressure on Jonas or Manu. We have had times without Harry Kane, Musiala and Joshua Kimmich this season, and we have also played without Manuel, so we will just have to do it without him again.
"We have talent in our team to continue. This was Jonas' debut and you could have easier matches of course, but in the first months with us, he seems really calm and controlled in his actions."
Bayern confirmed Neuer's injury on Thursday morning, revealing that the goalkeeper had torn a muscle fibre in his right calf, and would be sidelined for the forseeable future.
Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen had Nordi Mukiele sent off just after the hour for a second bookable offence as he raked his studs down the back of Kingsley Coman's calf to earn his marching orders.
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Harry Kane notched Bayern's other two goals - heading home a ninth-minute opener set up by former Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise - and a 75th-minute penalty after Edmond Tapsoba had been adjudged to have had a hold of the England striker after a Bayern corner.
The Bavarian outfit take a three-goal headstart into the second leg at BayArena next week, but Alonso's side will still pose a threat.
The pair's league meetings both ended in draws earlier in the campaign - a 0-0 draw at Leverkusen, and a 1-1 stalemate at Allianz Arena.
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