Bayern Munich will be without a senior goalkeeper for Wednesday’s Champions League last-16 second leg at home against Atalanta after their fourth shot-stopper went down.
Vincent Kompany is in crisis (Image: Oliver Kaelke/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
With all four of Bayern Munich’s senior goalkeepers injured, Vincent Kompany could hand the 16-year-old his professional debut in the Champions League. Academy star Leonard Prescott is expected to start in Bayern’s Round of 16 second leg against Atalanta on Wednesday.
Bayern coach Kompany is facing a crisis following the recent absence of veteran goalkeeper Sven Ulreich. Ulreich, 37, tore his right adductor muscle in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen and will be sidelined “for the time being”, Bayern announced.
Ulreich was given a rare start, with Jonas Ulbig joining Manuel Neuer and teenager Leon Cranach on the sideline. Neuer’s substitute, Ulbig, suffered a blow to the head in last Tuesday’s first leg against Atalanta.
Meanwhile, Neuer has returned to training after suffering a calf strain, but Kompany insists he will not rush the Bayern legend back into the squad. As for Cranach, he has been sidelined since December due to a thigh problem.
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Bayern reduced their options by loaning Daniel Peretz to Southampton in the January transfer window. However, the Bundesliga champions probably did not expect to face such a crisis.
Fortunately, Bayern won 6-1 in Italy, but they will need a historic defeat to miss out on a place in the quarter-finals this season. Despite being born in the United States, Prescott is highly regarded at the Allianz Arena, representing Germany at Under-17 level.
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Leonard Prescott has never made a senior appearance (Image: Mairo Cinquetty/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
If selected, the 16-year-old will become the youngest goalkeeper in Champions League history and the eighth-youngest player to feature in the competition. Giannis Bartle, 19, is likely to be on the bench.
Bayern have two games left before the international break, as they host Union Berlin on Saturday. Neuer is making good progress in his recovery from injury, but Kompany is not willing to take any risks ahead of the run-in.
“We have to consider the situation,” the Bayern manager explained. “Manuel Neuer was already fit for the game against (Borussia) Dortmund, but we waited another week even though he could have played.
Sven Ulreich injured against Bayer Leverkusen (Image: Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images)
“Then he returned to full training and we felt it was the right time. We have always brought players back after a week. The team has always coped well with the absence of some players, so there is no need to put unnecessary pressure on them.”
“These are not serious long-term injuries. It’s just frustrating for the players because they always want to be involved in the game.”
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