Injury setback for Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer who faces race to be fit for Champions League

By Canadian Press on March 23, 2025.

MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer faces a longer spell out than initially thought after aggravating a calf injury he suffered while celebrating a goal.

Neuer was working on his comeback from a right calf muscle tear when he suffered a setback in training on Saturday. Bayern described it as a “reaction” and said he will need to rest further, while German media on Sunday said it was another muscle tear.

The 39-year-old Neuer first tore the muscle while celebrating a goal during Bayern’s 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on March 6.

He now looks set to miss Bayern’s next Bundesliga games against St. Pauli and Augsburg, while his participation in Bayern’s Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Inter Milan on April 8 is doubtful.

The 21-year-old Jonas Urbig, a winter signing from Cologne, has been filling in since the Leverkusen match. He didn’t concede as Bayern comfortably progressed against its league rival, but Bayern lost 3-2 at home to relegation-threatened Bochum in the Bundesliga, then drew 1-1 with Union Berlin after an Urbig error.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

The Associated Press

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