Bundesliga
Neuer is in goal in the top game – Kimmich is on the bench
In goal for Munich in the top Bundesliga game against Bayer 04 Leverkusen: Manuel Neuer. photo
© Angelika Warmuth/dpa
His commitment was open until the end. But national goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is in goal for FC Bayern in the top game in Leverkusen. Meanwhile, Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso made a surprising change.
Neuer had to take a break from training in the week before the game and mostly only worked individually. “Last night after training, Manu gave the signal that he was starting. That’s a good sign,” said Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel on the TV channel Sky.
Joshua Kimmich, who was recently injured, returns to the squad after a shoulder injury, but not to the starting eleven. Central defender Dayot Upamecano will play again from the start after recovering from a torn muscle fiber. “Josh came into training this week and trained almost 100 percent without any symptoms. Nevertheless, the duels in a game like this are different,” explained Tuchel.
Tuchel optimistic
The Bayern coach was confident that he could inflict the leaders’ first defeat of the season. “We are further away from our top level than Leverkusen. That is where the opportunity lies,” said Tuchel: “It feels like this is one of those evenings where you can take the next step as a team and collectively as a club “We have to do it too, otherwise we have no chance of winning here. 30 teams have tried and we want to be the first.”
At Bayer Leverkusen, coach Xabi Alonso made four changes compared to the 3-2 cup win against VfB Stuttgart. The only expectation was that captain Lukas Hradecky would return in goal for Matej Kovar. Jeremie Frimpong, Jonas Hofmann and Patrick Schick are also on the bench. They will be replaced by Bayern loanees Josip Stanisic, Amine Adli and Nathan Tella.