Bayern Munich hit with injury blow as star suffers a setback ahead of Champions League quarter-final and title run-in

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has suffered a setback in his recovery from a calf injury. 

The veteran first suffered the injury while celebrating Jamal Musiala‘s goal during Bayern’s 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie earlier this month. 

He subsequently missed the second-leg tie and the next two Bundesliga matches against Bochum and Union Berlin. 

Neuer has been working on his comeback over the last fortnight but will have to wait longer for his return on the pitch. 

Bayern have confirmed the 38-year-old suffered a ‘reaction’ in his calf and will remain on the sidelines for longer. 

Vincent Kompany‘s side are six points clear at the top of the Bundesliga table and will face St Pauli and Augsburg after the international break.  

The veteran first suffered the injury while celebrating a goal against Bayer Leverkusen 

Neuer was replaced by Jonas Urbig, who also suffered a foot injury while on international duty

Bayern will then host Inter Milan in the Champions League quarter-final first leg and they will be hopeful Neuer will be fit for the crunch clash. 

After Neuer first suffered the injury, Kompany said: ‘In this moment, I have no news about Manuel. But it’s true that when he celebrated the goal, he injured himself. It looks like his calf, but we will have to see now.’

He added: ‘I don’t want to put too much pressure on Jonas [Urbig] or Manu. We have had times without Harry Kane, Musiala and Joshua Kimmich this season and we have also played without Manuel, so we will just have to do it without him again.

‘We have talent in our team to continue. This was Jonas’s debut and you could have easier matches of course, but in the first months with us, he seems really calm and controlled in his actions.’

Neuer was replaced by Jonas Urbig, who also suffered a foot injury while on international duty with the Germany Under-21 side. 

Neuer recently signed a one-year contract extension with Bayern Munich that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2026, taking him into his 40s.