In the cream-colored hoodie, Robert Lewandowski disappeared for investigation. After a training incident, FC Bayern Munich is worried about its world player ahead of the crucial weeks in the Bundesliga and Champions League.
The star striker slipped away from a shot on goal without opposition after almost half an hour during public training on Tuesday. The 33-year-old initially stayed on the pitch for a short time, and a little later Lewandowski left the training ground prematurely.
A “small injury” at Lewandowski
Munich later reported a “minor injury” to Lewandowski. It was initially unclear whether the attacker had to take a break. “I didn’t hit a ball cleanly and it hurts a bit”, quoted the “image” of the star striker. Lewandowski, limping a little, made his way through the fans alongside team doctor Jochen Hahne and had himself checked out at the practice on the training ground. The knee was reportedly affected.
The top scorer is indispensable for Munich’s long-awaited entry into the final of the Champions League. The quarterfinals will be drawn on Friday. The two knockout games will take place after the international break on June 5th and 6th. and 12./13. held in April.
Memories of the past year came alive. At the end of March, Lewandowski returned to Munich from international matches with the Polish national team with a ligament injury in his right knee. The goalscorer was then sorely missed in the quarter-final knockout in the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain.
Goretzka back in team training
The question marks behind Lewandowski almost displace the positive news about Leon Goretzka. The national player has returned to team training at Bayern Munich. The 27-year-old midfielder even played the final game of the unit in front of enthusiastic fans.
After the 1-1 draw against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, coach Julian Nagelsmann announced that Goretzka would be back in team training for the first time on Tuesday. “The knee is not responding at the moment, I hope it stays that way.”
Goretzka has been missing from the German record champions since his last appearance against Borussia Dortmund in early December due to knee problems. “It went well and it was fun. Of course I’m excited to take the next steps now”said the midfielder. “It’s extremely redeeming. I hope to come back better now.”
Goalkeeper Neuer was missing
Full-back Alphonso Davies trained individually on an adjacent pitch after his myocarditis, national goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was absent from the pitch for initially unknown reasons. Midfielder Corentin Tolisso, like Goretzka, completed the entire session in around 80 minutes after tearing a muscle fiber in his thigh.
The Munich hosts 1. FC Union Berlin in the Bundesliga on Saturday (6.30 p.m.). As table leaders, they currently have a seven-point lead over pursuers Borussia Dortmund. However, the arch-rival can come within four points of Bayern again with a win in the catch-up game on Wednesday (6.30 p.m.) at 1. FSV Mainz 05.
Source: dpa