Bayern Munich: Noussair Mazraoui likely to miss game against PSG
The games are coming thick and fast for Bayern Munich after Bundesliga resumed last weekend. The Bavarian club’s primary focus, for now, is domestic competitions, as DFB Pokal will also return next week. However, Julian Nagelsmann will certainly have one eye on the big Champions League game against Paris Saint-Germain in February.
The French club was drawn against Die Roten in the round of 16. For the second time in four seasons, Bayern will be facing PSG in the knockout round of the Champions League. The meeting with two giants of Europe is much earlier this season.
The first leg against PSG will take place in Paris on February 14. The Bavarian club will hope to return to Munich with an advantage ahead of the return leg at Allianz Arena at the start of March.
One player that looks certain to miss the game against PSG is Noussair Mazraoui. The Moroccan defender is currently sidelined due to an infection he developed after suffering COVID-19 after the World Cup in December. While talking to AZ this week, Mazraoui insisted that he may need four to five weeks to resume training.
"“I’m doing well, but I’m not allowed to do anything at the moment – no training. It could take 3,4,5 or 6 weeks. You have to be very careful.”"
The Moroccan full-back will have tests every week to track the progress. Noussair Mazraoui may need a bit longer to return to matchday squads since he has not been training for a few weeks. Die Roten will be hoping that Mazraoui will be fit for the final phase of the season.
Noussair Mazraoui missing the game against PSG is a big blow for Julian Nagelsmann since he was in fine form for Die Roten before the World Cup. He was providing great competition to Benjamin Pavard in the right-back position. The Moroccan international provides much more dynamisim in the final third than Pavard.
For now, Nagelsmann is expected to start Pavard against PSG in the right-back position. The French defender has largely been a solid performer for Nagelsmann. The German coach will need Pavard to be at his absolute best against PSG since the French defender will be facing Kylian Mbappe.
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Meanwhile, Sadio Mane is hoping to be fit for the first leg against PSG. The Senegalese forward has been on the sidelines since November due to an injury to his tibia. He has started training outside, so there is a decent chance for him to recover in time for the trip to Paris in mid-February. Lucas Hernandez and Manuel Neuer are the long-term absentees for the record Bundesliga champions.