Bayern Munich against Gladbach: Cancellation due to corona cases possible

Borussia Mönchengladbach has already experienced a lot in the corona pandemic: the first ghost game in Bundesliga history, for example, or a Champions League home game in Hungary. Another curious chapter could join in, because the start of the second half of the season at FC Bayern is on the brink due to numerous corona cases. Borussia itself has been hit hard after the short winter break with four newly infected, the record champions have been eight since Tuesday afternoon. The seven-day incidence per 100,000 inhabitants in the Bavarian professional squad is 32,000.

Manuel Neuer, Kingsley Coman, Corentin Tolisso and Omar Richards caused the first bad news on Saturday, followed by Lucas Hernández and Tanguy Nianzou on Monday, and Leroy Sané and Dayot Upamecano on Tuesday. In the DFL game regulations it says under “Dismissal due to illness of players” that a corresponding application must be made “immediately after becoming known”. The decisive paragraph reads: “The application must not be granted if more than 13 [bei erlaubten fünf Auswechslungen pro Mannschaft (§11 Nr. 3 SpOL) erhöht sich die Zahl auf 15] licensed players and / or amateurs / contract players who are eligible to play in the licensed team are available. There must be at least seven of these [siehe oben, die Zahl erhöht sich dann auf neun] Licensed players, including a goalkeeper, are located. “

In fact, the staffing cover is slowly becoming thin at Bayern. In addition to the Corona cases, ex-Borussia’s Michael Cuisance’s move to FC Venice and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (Cameroon) and Bouna Sarr (Senegal )’s participation in the Africa Cup also contribute. With this trio, the critical limit would be even further away. The all-clear regarding Covid-19 was given to Josip Stanisic, who is, however, in rehab after his muscle bundle rupture. Serge Gnabry and Leon Goretzka have recently trained individually, with Gnabry returning to the team on Tuesday. That can certainly be seen as a sign that Bayern are preparing to play the game against Gladbach. Joshua Kimmich has only been back since Monday after a week-long Corona break.

From the official professional squad, goalkeepers Sven Ulreich and Christian Früchtl, defenders Benjamin Pavard, Niklas Süle and Alphonso Davies, midfielders Marcel Sabitzer, Marc Roca and Malik Tillman as well as attackers Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Müller and Jamal Musiala are available. The minimum number of licensed players would then be reached, then it would depend on the licensed licensed players and amateur players authorized to play. Borussia already knows some of them like Taylor Booth or Bright Arrey-Mbi from the 2-0 test match success against Bayern’s B and C-Elf in the summer preparation. To meet you again so quickly in the Bundesliga, coach Adi Hütter would certainly not have expected.

A possible catch-up date would be clearly regulated according to the rules of the game: “Missed and canceled championship games must be scheduled no later than the following Tuesday or Wednesday without a game.” Whether enough Bayern players would be released from quarantine on January 11 or 12 is currently still open. The DFB Cup round of 16 will take place on January 18 and 19. Bayern have free after their 5-0 defeat in Gladbach, but Borussia will play at Hannover 96. From January 24th there will be an international match period in the calendar.

Ultimately, a request from FC Bayern would be decisive for a postponement as soon as there are no longer enough healthy and eligible players available. Against the background of the pandemic, the DFL members have jointly agreed on the regulations. Borussia would have to do without up to seven professionals: Denis Zakaria, Joe Scally, Keanan Bennetts, Mamadou Doucouré (all Covid-19), Jordan Beyer (just back in training), Jonas Hofmann (rehab after knee surgery) and Ramy Bensebaini (Africa Cup). But the foals should come in handy when the ball rolls in the Allianz Arena on Friday.