Bayern Munich will be without his German goalie Manuel Neuer for some weeks as he underwent surgery on his right knee joint on Monday. Kicker magazine had reported that the operation was being done to prevent any further damage.
Bayern will be without the 35-year-old goalkeeper against Bochum, Greuther Furth, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Bayer Leverkusen, who thrashed Borussia Dortmund 5-2 on Sunday. With 13 rounds remaining, Bayern Munich is nine points ahead of Dortmund in the Bundesliga.
Although there was no hint of any knee troubles when captain Neuer played in Bayern’s 3-2 triumph against Leipzig on Saturday. With the win over Leipzig, Neuer equaled former Bayern Munich goalkeeper Oliver Kahn’s Bundesliga record of 310 victories, but he’ll have to wait to break it.
Get well soon, Manu! 💪
📸 @Manuel_Neuer #MiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/H3SkGD5MAT
— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) February 6, 2022
Neuer will also miss Bayern’s Champions League round of 16 match against Salzburg, although he is expected to return in time for a possible quarterfinal match in April. “We’re sure he’ll be back to full fitness with us soon,” Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidžić said.
In the interim, reserve goalkeeper Sven Ulreich will fill in. Ulreich, 33, has already appeared twice this season, in a 12-0 triumph against Bremer SV in the German Cup first round and a 2-1 league loss to Borussia Mönchengladbach.
