Konrad Laimer sustained an injury during Bayern Munich‘s Telekom Cup friendly against his former employers RB Leipzig, forcing the Austrian midfielder to leave the pitch within the opening ten minutes. The 27-year-old, who completed a permanent switch from Leipzig to Munich last summer, required assistance from medical staff as he departed. Sacha Boey immediately replaced him as Bayern contested the pre-season fixture.
Squad shortages mount for Kompany
The setback compounds selection concerns for head coach Vincent Kompany with the Bundesliga season fast approaching. João Palhinha was already absent from the matchday squad as speculation regarding his future persists; the Portugal international continues to attract interest from the Premier League despite reports suggesting Aston Villa have opted against pursuing a deal for the defensive midfielder.
Josip Stanišić presented a further absence, with the Croatia international unavailable due to illness. The defensive shortages leave Bayern monitoring several fitness issues as they finalise preparations for the new campaign.
Boey’s introduction carries additional context beyond immediate tactical necessity. The French full-back features prominently among the players Bayern hope to offload before the transfer window closes, making his deployment in a competitive fixture particularly notable as the club assess their options.
Diaz strike settles contest
On the pitch, Liverpool forward Luis Diaz provided the decisive moment, scoring the only goal of the first half to separate the sides at the interval. The Colombia international’s trademark finish proved the difference in the Telekom Cup fixture, which served as preparation for both clubs ahead of their respective league campaigns.
Bayern will now await medical assessments to determine the severity of Laimer’s complaint, with the extent of his absence set to dictate Kompany’s midfield planning for the weeks ahead.