Manuel Neuer of Bayern Munich Out Indefinitely Due to Calf Injury

Synopsis

Bayern Munich's captain, Manuel Neuer, is set to miss an extended period due to a torn calf muscle sustained during a Champions League match against Leverkusen. The injury occurred while he was celebrating a goal by Jamal Musiala, leading to the debut of Jonas Urbig as his replacement.

Key Takeaways

Manuel Neuer has a torn calf muscle.
He will be out for the foreseeable future.
Jonas Urbig made his Bayern debut in Neuer's absence.
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany emphasized team resilience.
Bayern has a strong lead against Leverkusen.

Munich, March 6 (NationPress) Bayern Munich captain Manuel Neuer has been sidelined for the foreseeable future due to a tear in his right calf muscle sustained during their 3-0 victory over Leverkusen in the Champions League Round of 16 for the 2024-25 season. The former Germany No. 1 goalkeeper was injured while celebrating Jamal Musiala's goal in the second half, leading to Jonas Urbig taking his place for his debut with Bayern.

On Thursday, Bayern confirmed that medical scans indicated Neuer has a torn muscle fiber in his right calf.

"Manuel Neuer suffered a torn muscle fiber in his right calf during the 3-0 win against Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the Champions League on Wednesday evening. The FC Bayern medical team has confirmed the diagnosis. As a result, the record German champions' goalkeeper will be unavailable for the foreseeable future," stated Bayern.

The head coach of Bayern, Vincent Kompany, acknowledged the team's need to adapt without Neuer. "I don't want to add unnecessary pressure on Jonas or Manu. We have previously managed without Harry Kane, Musiala, and Joshua Kimmich this season, and we will once again need to perform without Manuel," Kompany remarked after the match.

"We possess the talent to keep moving forward. This match marked Jonas's debut, and although he faced a challenging start, he has shown calmness and composure in his initial months with us," he added.

Bayern is set to face Leverkusen again next Wednesday (IST) with a significant lead, but Kompany insists that the contest is not yet concluded. "We performed well in one half, but not the entirety of the match. In the second leg at Leverkusen, we must maintain that level of play," he said.

Since joining Bayern Munich in 2011, Neuer has made an impressive total of 554 appearances across various competitions. He helped the team secure the UEFA Champions League titles in both the 2012-13 and 2019-20 seasons.