Lewandowski-less Bayern Munich Wait On Gnabry For PSG Clash
Muhammad Rameez Published April 06, 2021 | 08:29 PM
Holders Bayern Munich, who already have top-scorer Robert Lewandowski sidelined, could also be without winger Serge Gnabry when they face Paris Saint Germain in Wednesday's repeat of the 2020 Champions League final
Munich, Germany, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Apr, 2021 ) :Holders Bayern Munich, who already have top-scorer Robert Lewandowski sidelined, could also be without winger Serge Gnabry when they face Paris Saint Germain in Wednesday's repeat of the 2020 Champions League final.
"Serge has a sore throat and will probably be out as well," Bayern coach Hansi Flick said Tuesday ahead of the quarter-final, first leg at home with the return in Paris next Tuesday.
Gnabry's illness could leave Bayern without two key forwards against PSG.
Lewandowski, voted FIFA's best male player of 2020, misses both legs with a knee injury after scoring 42 goals for Bayern this season including five in the Champions League.
Flick said midfielder Marc Roca will also miss the first leg at the Allianz Arena after picking up an injury on Sunday in training.
Should Gabry drop out, his Germany team-mate Leroy Sane will play on the flanks along with Kingsley Coman, whose header last August sealed a 1-0 win over PSG in the 2020 Champions League final.
While the French giants may be motivated to avenge that defeat in Lisbon, Flick played down the element of a rematch with Mauricio Pochettino having since replaced Thomas Tuchel as PSG's head coach.
"For Paris maybe, but not for us. It's a new game, a new team and Paris has a new coach," Flick said succinctly.
Nevertheless there is plenty of respect from the Bayern camp for PSG, whose line-up boasts the talent of Brazil superstar Neymar and France forward Kylian Mbappe.
Everyone knows "what attacking power they have, with players like Neymar or Mbappe who can decide a game at any time," said Bayern board member and former club captain Oliver Kahn.
"They are an absolute top opponent." PSG are missing defender Alessandro Florenzi and midfielder Marco Verratti, who are quarantined after testing positive for Covid-19.
The pair are among a group of at least six Italy players who have tested positive for the virus since the recent international break.
PSG had Neymar sent off in Saturday's 1-0 home defeat to Lille, who usurped them as French league leaders.
The Parisian giants have already lost eight times in the French league in 2020/21, the most during a single season for 10 years.
Nevertheless, Pochettino is relishing the chance to end Bayern's unbeaten run of 19 Champions League games dating back to March 2019.
"We're playing against the best team on the continent at the moment. But we are optimistic. We have already knocked out Barcelona," he said, in reference to PSG beating the Spanish giants in the last 16.
On Tuesday, Flick refused to confirm reports centre-back Jerome Boateng will leave Bayern at the end of the season having not been offered a contract extension.
Both Boateng and left-back Alphonso Davies are available to face PSG after being suspended for Saturday's 1-0 win at RB Leipzig which left Munich seven points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Nawaz Sharif to visit Guangzhou exhibition in China
FM Dar not traveling to China: Foreign Office
PM takes notice of deliberate delay in tax cases
Iranian President visits Allama Iqbal’s mausoleum
Iranian President arrives in Lahore today
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 23 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 23 April 2024
Islam enlightened world with its teachings about knowledge: Dr Jamileh
Record London close as oil prices drop on easing Middle East fears
TV tower in Kharkiv struck as Russia captured village
LCCI language courses from May 1
Governor for service oriented governance in Punjab
More Stories From Sports
-
Bismah, Sadia, Hani progress in ICC Women’s Rankings
25 minutes ago -
Central Asian Volleyball League in Islamabad next month
44 minutes ago -
UN urges UK to reconsider Rwanda deportation plan
55 minutes ago -
Hockey Men’s Nations Cup from May 31
1 hour ago -
Inter Milan seal Scudetto in derby thriller with AC Milan
1 hour ago -
Ruben Amorim: Portugal's next coaching superstar, tipped for Liverpool
4 hours ago
-
Djokovic skips Madrid Open but is aiming for Rome
6 hours ago -
WADA: 'No credible evidence of wrongdoing' in Chinese swimming case
18 hours ago -
Actress Nazish Jahangir's Babar Azam marriage response goes viral
20 hours ago -
Italy icon Cannavaro named Udinese boss after Cioffi sacked
20 hours ago -
Sabir, Mujahid win mind game as first South Punjab Chess Fair concludes
22 hours ago -
Muhammad Amir says can’t guarantee about making mistakes
23 hours ago