Bayern Munich’s veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will be out of action for the rest of 2024 after sustaining a broken rib. The news was confirmed by Bayern’s coach Vincent Kompany during a press conference on Monday, ahead of their Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk in Gelsenkirchen.
The 38-year-old missed Bayern’s Bundesliga victory over Heidenheim last weekend, and his injury adds to an already lengthy list of absentees for the Bavarian giants. Neuer’s setback came during last week’s German Cup loss to Bayer Leverkusen, a match where he was sent off with a straight red card — the first of his illustrious career — after a collision with an opponent.
“He is nursing a broken rib. He will most likely not play anymore this year. It is important for this to heal and from January we’ll have him again,” Kompany explained. “It’s not too bad but with so many matches it’s too early for him to play.”
Injury Woes for Bayern
Neuer’s injury compounds Bayern Munich’s struggles with player availability. The team is already missing key contributors like top scorer Harry Kane, Joao Palhinha, Alphonso Davies, and Serge Gnabry.
Despite these challenges, Kompany remains optimistic about the team’s resilience and their prospects for the second half of the season.
“The issue of injuries is that clearly we have a lot of people absent, but we held on well until now. From early January, we will have a big squad again. We handled it well so far,” Kompany noted.
Champions League Standings
The match against Shakhtar Donetsk, which will take place in Gelsenkirchen due to ongoing instability in Ukraine, carries significant implications for Bayern’s Champions League campaign.
The Bundesliga leaders currently sit in 13th place with nine points, one point away from the top eight spots that secure automatic qualification for the last 16.
Meanwhile, their Ukrainian opponents, Shakhtar, are in 26th place with four points, trailing the playoff places by two points.
Despite the mounting injury list, Bayern Munich remains focused on finishing the year strong as the winter break approaches. Fans and players alike will be eager for the squad’s return to full strength in January, when Neuer an
