Bayern Munich captain Manuel Neuer will likely not play again in 2024, coach Vincent Kompany said ahead of Tuesday’s clash with Shakhtar Donetsk.
Speaking on Monday, Kompany said “he’s got a broken rib, which means he probably won’t play again this year.
“What’s important is that it heals now. Hopefully from the start of January, we’ll have Manu back, but for now it’s too early.”
Kompany confirmed Neuer broke his rib in a collision with Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong on Tuesday, for which the goalie also picked up the first red card of his 866-game career.
Bayern are missing several first-team players as an injury crisis sweeps through the club.
Neuer, Harry Kane, Kingsley Coman, Alphonso Davies, Joao Palhinha, Serge Gnabry, Josip Stanisic, Hiroki Ito and Mathys Tel are all on the injured list, while back-up ‘keeper Sven Ulreich is out for personal reasons.
“We’re missing a lot of players, but I think we’ve come through well so far,” Kompany said.
Neuer’s absence means Bayern’s third-choice goalie, Daniel Peretz, will start between the sticks.
The Israel goalkeeper will play his third game for Bayern having made his club debut off the bench after Neuer’s sending off in the 1-0 German Cup last 16 loss to Leverkusen.
The six-time Champions League winners sit in 13th spot on the Champions League table after five matches, after three home wins and away losses to Barcelona and Aston Villa.
A win against Shakhtar would help Bayern’s bid to finish in the top eight and avoid an additional playoff round.
Officially an ‘away’ fixture for Bayern, Tuesday’s match is in the German city of Gelsenkirchen, Shakhtar’s European base this season as their displacement due to Russia’s invasion continues.
Bayern last lost in Gelsenkirchen, the home
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