Alphonso Davies and Dayot Upamecano’s injuries will force Bayern Munich to rebuild their defence for Saturday’s match against lowly St Pauli. The Bundesliga leaders need a win to stay in the championship hunt.
The Bavarians, who play Inter Milan in the Champions League quarterfinals next month, have lost two Bundesliga games and are six points behind Bayer Leverkusen.
Leaders Bayern have 62, while champions Leverkusen have 56. Mainz 05 is third with 45.
Bundesliga leaders must reconfigure their backline after left back Davies tore his right ACL in the 12th minute of Canada’s 2-1 CONCACAF Nations League third-place playoff win over the US on Sunday.
The 24-year-old’s season-long absence will hurt Bayern coach Vincent Kompany.
Bayern will also without Upamecano for weeks after he injured his knee in France’s Nations League quarter-final shootout triumph over Croatia.
Both are Bayern’s fastest defenders and best suited to Kompany’s high-pressing, quick transition game. Eric Dier, Josip Stanisic, and Hiroki Ito may lack pace.
Bayern will try to avoid another home loss after losing 3-2 to VfL Bochum after leading 2-0. They then drew 1-1 against Union Berlin before the international break last week. Max Eberl, Bayern’s sports director, stated the team won’t change their season goals despite injuries.
“The absences of Alphonso Davies and Dayot Upamecano are a big blow for Bayern,” he remarked.
The team is strong enough to make up for these absences. This will unite us more. We have the ability to focus on all important goals this season.”
Bayern, who want to win the league again after Leverkusen’s double-winning season, also want to reach the Champions League final at the Allianz Arena. Leverkusen, who beat VfB Stuttgart 4-3 on the last matchday with a stoppage-time winner, will try to keep their title aspirations alive with a win over Bochum on Friday and put more pressure on Bayern.
Surprise parcel Mainz, in 11th place, face Borussia Dortmund on Sunday and risk missing out on the Champions League next season. Dortmund play Barcelona in the Champions League quarterfinals next month.
