FC Bayern Munich club is facing serious issues regarding injuries and physical readiness before the first UEFA Champions League match happening this Wednesday.
It is unclear whether Arjen Robben will be able to appear on the field due to knee problems that made him miss Sunday's training. Another winger, Franck Ribery, played his first match of the season on Saturday but seemed out of form. This indicates that the Frenchman is also not in optimal condition.
Recently recovered defender Holger Badstuber, who was out for 20 months due to injury, got injured again. The 25-year-old German tore his thigh muscle tendon and will require surgery.
FC Bayern has not yet reached its best form, as many players are still fatigued from the World Cup. In addition to the aforementioned two, Thiago Alcantara, Bastian Schweinsteiger, and Rafinha are also undergoing treatment for injuries.
Last season, Bayern faced Manchester City at a similar stage. The Bayern attack seemed static back then, and they had to acknowledge their opponents' advantage.
"We know we have to play better against Man City," said team captain Philipp Lahm. "They are a top-level club, the champions of England, and we want to start the tournament well. But we haven't quite found our rhythm yet."
Manchester City also did not start the season with a bang. Manuel Pellegrini's team earned 7 points in the first four league matches. However, the coach himself will not be in the Allianz Arena due to criticism of referees after the match against Barcelona. Additionally, the guests will have to manage without suspended defender Pablo Zabaleta.
