Bayern Munich captain Manuel Neuer is on course to return from a left adductor injury at Arsenal in the Uefa Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday, according to a report from Germany.
Two-time Champions League winner Neuer had been ever-present since returning from a broken leg in October but has missed Bayern’s last two matches – a 2-0 defeat at home to Dortmund and a shock 3-2 loss at minnows Heidenheim on Saturday.
The former Germany international trained fully without problems on Sunday and will return in the first leg at Emirates Stadium as long as he comes through a final session on Monday, Sky Sport has said.
Neuer has played in every minute of Bayern’s eight matches against Arsenal in the competition, winning five of them and helping his side go through on aggregate in all four of the ties.
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Bayern have won on three of the four occasions when they have visited the Gunners with Neuer in goal, most recently thrashing Arsenal 5-1 when the 2014 World Cup winner was their skipper in the 2016/17 round of 16.
Understudy Sven Ulreich conceded five goals in three games during this season’s group stage before Neuer returned to fitness, keeping all three of their clean sheets in his five appearances between then and their round of 16 win over Lazio.
Bayern injuries v Arsenal
Wingers Leroy Sane and Kingsley Coman and defender Noussair Mazraoui are doubts after missing Bayern’s trip to Heidenheim, when they were beaten despite being 2-0 up at half-time.
Midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic is out with an infection but Harry Kane, who was a nemesis for Arsenal during his time with Tottenham, completed 90 minutes against Heidenheim following the issue which kept him out of England’s friendlies in March.
The quarter-finals 🍿#UCL pic.twitter.com/MherhfsZe1
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 8, 2024
Kane’s six Champions League goals this season make him the joint-top scorer in the competition alongside Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, Paris St-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe and Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann.
Their latest defeat means a seventh Champions League trophy is the only title Bayern are realistically competing for this season.
Thomas Tuchel’s team are 16 points behind unbeaten Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen with six games remaining and are only above third-placed Stuttgart on goal difference.
The reigning champions visit Stuttgart in their penultimate away league match on May 4.
