The international break finally came to an end on Tuesday. Bayern Munich will resume the Bundesliga campaign with a home game against an impressive Bayer Leverkusen side on Friday. The defending champions may have to face Leverkusen without their key man in the center of the park.
According to Sport1’s Kerry Hau and AZ, Joshua Kimmich is a doubt for the game against Bayer Leverkusen. Kimmich was not part of Germany’s squad against France on Tuesday due to a muscular problem in his thigh. The German international will be further assessed by Bayern’s staff on Wednesday.
Kimmich’s absence against Bayer Leverkusen will be a big blow for Thomas Tuchel. The German international has been one of the star performers for Die Roten in the first three rounds of the Bundesliga. Joshua Kimmich has been a mainstay in the midfield under Tuchel.
The injury to Joshua Kimmich also highlights how light the midfield department is at Bayern. Tuchel currently has only three proper central midfielders in the squad. In the absence of Kimmich, Konrad Laimer is likely to get his first Bundesliga start of the season against Bayer Leverkusen.
Joshua Kimmich is a doubt for Bayern against Leverkusen on Friday. Midfielder received a hit to his thigh in the game against Japan. There will be an examination in Munich later today, reports @_kochmaximilian. https://t.co/PwXugVafCI
— Bundesliga Latest (@BL_LatestNews) September 13, 2023
Laimer came on against Borussia Monchengladbach at half-time before the international break to play in the right-back position. The Austrian midfielder did a fine job in the right-back role, providing the impetus in the final third, which eventually helped Bayern to grab all three points.
Leon Goretzka will keep his place in the starting XI against Bayer Leverkusen and partner Laimer in the center of the park. After not getting a call-up for Germany, Goretzka worked hard in training at Sabner Strasse over the two weeks. The German midfielder has started the season strongly after constant speculation over his future in Bavaria during the summer transfer window.
Tuchel will hope to get a defensive midfielder in January to strengthen the midfield position. In the current scenario, one injury can significantly disrupt his plans. The Bavarian club is expected to go back for Fulham’s Joao Palhinha in January after failing to get the deal over the line on deadline day.
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Meanwhile, Jamal Musiala is expected to be part of the matchday squad against Bayer Leverkusen. The youngster has missed the last two league games due to a minor injury. He completed the recovery process at Sabner Strasse during the international break. It remains to be seen if Musiala will start against Leverkusen after spending just over three weeks on the sidelines due to injury.