Bayern Munich got off to a good start in DFB Pokal on Tuesday. The Bavarian club clinched a comfortable 4-0 win away at Preussen Munster in the first round of DFB Pokal. It was a dominating performance from Bayern despite starting the game without an established center-back.
The only disappointment for Bayern on Tuesday was the injury of Serge Gnabry. The German forward came off the pitch in the first half due to a serious injury to his forearm. Thomas Tuchel confirmed after the game that Gnabry will undergo surgery on Wednesday. He is set for a spell on the sidelines due to injury.
Bayern are likely to provide an update on Gnabry later today. As things stand, he is definitely ruled out for the game against RB Leipzig on Saturday. Bayern and Tuchel will hope the damage is minimal and Serge Gnabry returns at least by the end of the next international break in mid-October.
The Bavarian club has decent depth in the wide positions. In the absence of Gnabry, Kingsley Coman and Leroy Sane will be first-choice options for the wide positions. Sane has been Die Roten’s impressive forward after Kane this season, while Coman has also been in good form.
Thomas Tuchel: "Serge Gnabry has broken his forearm, will have surgery tomorrow and will be out for a few weeks. That's extremely bitter for us." [Sky] pic.twitter.com/syysbrXEBI
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) September 26, 2023
Mathys Tel has also played on the left flank for Bayern this season. The French forward is currently in red-hot goal-scoring form. Tel has scored goals in most games this season whenever he has come off the bench. He is currently pushing for a place in the starting XI.
Apart from these three wide players, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Thomas Muller can also play in the wide positions. Jamal Musiala can also play as a narrow forward due to his quick feet and close control in tight spaces. Gnabry’s injury is a definite blow, but Bayern has enough depth in the attack to cope in his absence.
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Meanwhile, Kim Min-jae and Dayot Upamecano will be fit for the Bundesliga clash against RB Leipzig. The center-back duo had missed the game against Munster due to minor injuries. Matthijs de Ligt is not expected to be fit for the game on Saturday, but he could return in next week’s Champions League game against FC Copenhagen.
Manuel Neuer is also closing on a return to first-team action after nine months on the sidelines. The German goalkeeper was spotted in training with Sven Ulreich, so it does look like a matter of days for him to get back in action.