Bayern Munich had to make a late change to the starting lineup against Borussia Dortmund as Serge Gnabry was ruled out due to muscle problems. The German forward was expected to start in the number ten position behind Harry Kane.
Vincent Kompany decided to move Kane to the number ten role and started Nicolas Jackson in the striker position. The Senegalese forward had an average game and was subsequently substituted at the hour mark. Bayern went on to clinch a 2-1 victory in Der Klassiker, extending their lead to five points at the top of the points table.
Gnabry was not even included amongst substitutes due to his injury. However, the German forward is not expected to be out for a long time.
While talking to Bild after Bayern’s win against Dortmund, Max Eberl revealed that Gnabry’s injury doesn’t look serious. There is a good chance that Gnabry will be back in the squad for the mid-week Champions League clash against Club Brugge.
"It's not so bad. In the final training session on Friday, he felt something in his adductor, a slight pain. Nothing's torn, nothing dramatic. So he should be available again relatively soon."Max Eberl
Gnabry also told Bild that the injury doesn’t look serious. Bayern would be pleased to see that there was no significant muscle damage, as they cannot afford to lose another forward for several weeks.
Gnabry is becoming crucial player for Vincent Kompany
After Jamal Musiala was ruled out at least until the end of 2025, Gnabry has become a crucial player for Vincent Kompany. Musiala suffered a serious ankle injury during the Club World Cup game against Paris Saint-Germain in July.
Bayern decided to keep Gnabry in the squad, while the likes of Leroy Sane, Thomas Muller, and Kingsley Coman left for different reasons. Gnabry repaid Kompany’s faith in him by delivering strong performances over the last two months. Courtesy of good performances for Die Roten, Gnabry has also been part of the German national team during the last couple of international breaks.
With Nicolas Jackson still adapting to the system and playing style, it is crucial for Kompany and Bayern that Gnabry returns to the action. Even if he recovers completely by Wednesday, the Belgian coach may not start him. However, minutes from the bench for Gnabry will be great news for Bayern.
Die Roten will look to extend their winning run to 12 games when they host Club Brugge on Wednesday. They are currently at the top of the points table after two matchdays. Kompany has done a terrific job with a smaller squad. He will be itching to get all injured players back in the squad for a challenging second half of the season.