Manuel Neuer is out for the time being. In the Champions League, Vincent Kompany relies on an inexperienced goalkeeper trio. Is that enough? Or does FC Bayern still need an experienced goalkeeper?
“Koan Neuer” – that’s how the FC Bayern fans welcomed Manuel Neuer to the club in 2011. It’s now hard to imagine the club without the keeper. The 38-year-old played over 500 games for the record champions and won countless titles – including the treble twice.
In the Champions League group game in Gelsenkirchen against Shakhtar Donetsk (9 p.m., live in the radio report) the 2014 world champion is missing. His body check in the game against Bayer Leverkusen was not without consequences: the FC Bayern captain suffered a broken rib and is out for the time being.
But this time, this bad news is unlikely to cause panic among Bayern officials, as it did when the goalkeeper broke his fibula and tibia on a ski tour and was out for months. At the time, the bosses were desperately looking for an adequate replacement, many names were circulating on Säbener Straße until Yann Sommer was finally signed by Borussia Mönchengladbach.
This winter break, FC Bayern will not be on a hectic search for a goalkeeper. Because Neuer is “only” out for three games and will most likely be back in goal in the first game after the winter break in Mönchengladbach on January 11th. “Hopefully we’ll have him back in January. It’s not that bad,” said Bayern coach Vincent Kompany.
Inexperienced goalkeeper trio against Schalke
Kompany is relying on an inexperienced goalkeeper trio for Schalke against Donetsk. Sven Ulreich, the regular number two, is missing for “personal reasons”, as the club announced; he had already had to take a month off for these same reasons. Daniel Peretz makes his first Champions League appearance and is once again in the spotlight.
The 24-year-old came in goal for Neuer a week ago when he played at DFB Cup exit against Bayer Leverkusen (0-1) because of his check against Jeremie Frimpong. At the 4:2 in the league against 1. FC Heidenheim, when Neuer was officially out due to rib problems, Peretz conceded two goals from two of the guests’ shots on goal – the Israeli hasn’t really been able to distinguish himself at FCB yet. So is Peretz really enough as a plan B?
Kompany praises Peretz before the game against Donetsk
Bayern have no concerns about that. “He did well,” Kompany said of Peretz, who came to Bayern in the summer of 2023. “He deserves it.” Peretz is now the Israeli national team’s goalkeeper and kept a clean sheet in the last two games against France and Belgium thanks to brilliant saves on the line.
Peter Schultz, Sportschau, December 10, 2024 4:13 p.m
U-17 world champion Max Schmitt (18), regular keeper for Munich’s second team, and the 17-year-old young talent Leon Klanac are on the bench as substitute keepers.
What happens at Bayern’s goal after the end of the season?
Neuer’s failure is foreseeable this time. But how long will the “eternal number one” continue to guard the record champions’ box? The 38-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the season. The “Süddeutsche Zeitung” and the “Kicker” report that an extension is purely a formality. In the fall, however, the “Bild” wrote that those responsible at Bayern wanted to take their time with a contract extension and would like to use it Depending on Neuer’s sporting performance and his state of health. The former national team keeper recently made an appearance one or two mistakes, had to put up with criticism.
Alexander Nübel is available as a long-term replacement. The 28-year-old is on loan at VfB Stuttgart until 2026. However, there should be a clause in the loan agreement that should enable an early return campaign in the summer of 2025. This gives the club the opportunity to react flexibly. If Neuer extends his time, Nübel stays in Stuttgart. If the captain ends his career, Nübel would be ready.
Video: Kompany confirms: Manuel Neuer’s rib fracture
League leadership and relegation battle, current fixtures, results and live ticker, top scorer lists, mileage and tackle statistics and much more: Football in the BR24Sport results center.
Source: BR24Sport
December 10, 2024 – 9:00 p.m
