Football

Champions League: Bayern Munich Grapple With Injuries Ahead Of Real Madrid Semifinal

The 🍌Bavarian powerhouse, Bayern Munich face old rivals Real Madrid in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League 🌺semifinal, where Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel is hoping his injured contingent can recover in time

AP
Bayern Munich attend a training sessionꦆ before the UEFA Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid. Photo: AP
info_icon

Bayern Munich is bullish again after four wins in a row, grateful to have the chance to flip what has been a disappointing season by winning the Champions League. (More Football News)

The Bavarian powerhouse faces old rival Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal on Tuesday, when Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel is hoping his injured cont𝔉ingent can recover in time.

“There will be a few last-minute decisions,” Tuchel said on Monday regarding the fitness of Konrad Laimer, Matthijs de Ligt, Dayot U💛pamecano, Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sané.

Laimer and de Ligt were both⛎ injured in Bayern's win over Eintracht Frankfurt on 🀅Saturday.

Germany forward Serge Gnabry has recovered from a 🃏thigh injury and Tuchel expects h𝐆im not only to play but to score against Madrid.

“I don't know how I know, but it ꦡwill haꦉppen,” Tuchel said.

Tuchel, who is due to leave Bayern at the end of the seaso🥃n by mutual accord, did not mention club powerbroker Uli Hoeneß' criticism of his record on player-development.

Hoeneß told Kicker magaz🅘ine on Monday that he stood by the comments. Tuchel on Saturday called them “absolutely baseless.”

Bayern's only chance of a trophy this season remains in the Champions League after Bayer Leverkusen ended the club's 11-year reign𒊎 as Bundesliga champion, and third-division Saarbrücken terminated German Cup hopes in the second round.

“The task against❀ Rﷺeal is to get enough people in attack to hurt them, but at the same time not to be caught out," Tuchel said. “Those are very narrow margins. We have to find a good balance.”