Bayern Munich received a significant, albeit cautious, injury boost on Monday as both Michael Olise and Manuel Neuer participated in team training ahead of their crucial Champions League away fixture against Atletico Madrid.
The German champions travel to the Spanish capital for Tuesday’s match aiming to return to winning ways in the competition after two consecutive draws. While the presence of Olise and Neuer in training suggests they are likely to be included in the squad, their extent of involvement on the pitch remains to be seen.
Olise’s Return Monitored Closely
Michael Olise, who was forced off towards the end of Bayern’s 2-2 draw with Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, trained with his right knee bandaged. Bayern’s board member for sport, Max Eberl, indicated a cautious approach to Olise’s return, stating that his fitness would be assessed daily.
“As for Michael Olise, we’ll take another look at him tomorrow; we’re taking it day by day,” Eberl said on Monday. He added that while it is positive Olise is travelling with the squad, the club would “avoid the risk of it turning into a long-term injury.”
Neuer Back After Foot Problem
Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer also returned to team training on Monday. Neuer had missed Bayern’s previous three matches due to a setback related to a foot problem, which occurred after his initial return from a similar injury in a 2-2 draw with Arsenal nearly two weeks prior. His participation in training suggests he is nearing a full return, though Eberl simply stated, “we’ll see how it goes” regarding his potential involvement against Atletico.
Further Injury Concerns for Bayern
Despite the positive news surrounding Olise and Neuer, Bayern Munich continues to contend with other significant injury absences. Jamal Musiala and Luis Diaz were both limited to individual training sessions on Monday, with the Atletico Madrid match coming too soon for their full return. This marked Diaz’s first session on the pitch since sustaining a muscle injury.
More seriously, Ismael Saibari and Serge Gnabry are confirmed absentees for the Champions League clash. Both players picked up serious injuries during the recent draw against Borussia Dortmund and will not be available for selection.
Crucial Champions League Encounter
Bayern Munich enters the match against Atletico Madrid under pressure to secure a victory in the Champions League. The club dropped points in a previous Champions League match in Stavanger and has drawn its last two games in the competition. Max Eberl emphasised the importance of the fixture, describing it as a “top Champions League fixture” and acknowledging the difficulty of facing Atletico Madrid away from home.
“It’s definitely one of the trickiest away fixtures you can face in the Champions League, against opponents who are extremely tough to play against and possess a very high standard of quality,” Eberl commented, highlighting the resilience Bayern will need to demonstrate.