The hits kept coming. After an unexpected 2-2 draw with Mainz at the bottom of the standings, Bayern Munich suffered another setback. Captain and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will apparently be sidelined for the time being with a hamstring injury.
This means that Vincent Kompany will have to start Jonas Urbiger in the final game of the year against 17th-placed Heidenheim – which is what most fans want anyway. Urbig has shown great talent in the first few games this season, and Neuer’s sudden injury will give him the opportunity to show himself again.
According to fcbayern.com:
Bayern Munich will be without captain Manuel Neuer for the time being. The goalkeeper suffered a torn muscle fiber in his right hamstring during Sunday’s Bundesliga home match against 1. FSV Mainz 05. This is the result of an examination by Bayern’s medical department.
Neuer, who is nearly 40 years old, has played almost every game in the Bundesliga and Champions League this season. This isn’t the first time he’s had injury issues – he missed as many as 15 games last season with a variety of issues including torn muscle fibers, broken ribs and hamstring issues.
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This latest injury could be a sign that his body is finally starting to slow down, as he spent much of Mainz’s game marauding outside the penalty area and even converted a throw-in at one point. While the game against Paris Saint-Germain proved that Neuer can still deliver when called upon, it might be prudent for Vincent Kompany to give Jonas Urbig more minutes. Both for the development of young people and to give the obviously overworked Neuer a rest.
According to Bild (via @iMiaSanMia), Neuer should return to action after the winter break. We wish him a speedy recovery!
