The major absentees for Bayern Munich during the round of the 16 phase of the Champions League are Manuel Neuer, Leon Goretzka, and Alphonso Davies. Neuer and Goretzka are currently recovering from knee injuries, while Davies is recovering from myocarditis.
Davies has been out of action since January. After recovering from coronavirus after the winter break, Davies was diagnosed with mild myocarditis. The Canadian left-back had to take a complete break from football to recover from this problem. He has not been spotted training with the team for weeks, and he is seen in the stands during the games at Allianz Arena.
There has been no timeline given by Rekordmeister for the complete recovery of Davies from myocarditis. However, few reports in Germany have suggested that Davies is unlikely to play until April. In such a scenario, Davies may miss the next knockout phase of the Champions League if Die Roten manages to get past RB Salzburg.
The Bavarian club has not given any briefing about the recovery of Alphonso Davies, but Julian Nagelsmann did give a positive update on Saturday. While talking to the media (via Bundesliga.com) in Bochum, Nagelsmann confirmed that Davies is on the right track in his recovery, and a test is likely to take place after two weeks.
"“Fortunately, he’s on the mend.”“It’s still going to take a while, but the danger signs around his heart condition are certainly gone. He has another appointment in two weeks. The best-case scenario seems to have happened in terms of the healing process.”"
Alphonso Davies has been a big miss for Die Roten in the past four weeks. After a mixed second season as left-back, Davies is back to his best this season. He provides a different dimension to Rekordmeister’s attack by holding the width on the left flank. His incredible recovery pace makes sure that Die Roten is not vulnerable to counter-attacks.
Die Roten and the Bavarian faithful will be hoping that Davies will be available for the final and crucial stretch of the season. If Rekordmeister progresses deep in the Champions League, the presence of Davies in the left-back position will make them a very formidable side.
Goretzka and Neuer are expected to return in March. Neuer recently underwent surgery on his knee, which ruled him out for four to six weeks. On the other hand, Goretzka has been struggling with a knee problem since mid-December. The German midfielder also suffered a setback during his recovery process.
Jamal Musiala was also not part of the travelling squad to Austria. The German attacking midfielder has been quarantined after testing positive for coronavirus a few days ago. He is likely to make a return during the Bundesliga game against Greuther Furth on Sunday.