Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will be out of action after suffering a calf muscle tear while celebrating during his team’s 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.
Neuer, 38, had to leave the pitch in the second half of Wednesday’s match, shortly after Jamal Musiala scored Bayern’s second goal. He was seen limping before being substituted, making way for 21-year-old Jonas Urbig, who made his debut for the club.
On Thursday, Bayern Munich confirmed the injury, stating that Neuer “would be out for the time being.”
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany addressed the unfortunate incident after the match, saying, “It happened while celebrating,” and adding, “that’s a shame for us.”
This injury is another setback for Neuer, who has already battled a serious leg injury in recent years. He missed nearly an entire year of football after breaking his leg in a skiing accident in December 2022. That injury kept him sidelined until October 2023.
Despite Neuer’s exit, Bayern remained in control of the match, and Urbig had little to do as the German giants dominated their opponents. The young goalkeeper joined Bayern from Cologne in the winter transfer window and now has a chance to step up in Neuer’s absence.
Bayern Munich are currently leading the Bundesliga by eight points, with only 10 games left in the season. They will face Bayer Leverkusen again next week for the second leg of their Champions League tie, holding a strong advantage after their convincing first-leg performance.
