Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago and striker Arjen Robben have withdrawn for the UEFA Champions League match against AEK Athens on Wednesday, while Colombian James is still uncertain, coach Niko Kovac said on Tuesday.
These absences are in addition to those of two young international French seriously injured early in the season and still in rehabilitation, Kingsley Coman (ankle) and Corentin Tolisso (knee).
"For James, we will see during the last training (tuesday afternoon note) the seriousness of his calf problem," said Kovac, who still has a staff still provided.
An offensive animation turned upside down
The young Serge Gnabry can replace Robben, while Joshua Kimmich was recently lined up as a defensive midfielder to overcome the absence of Thiago and Tolisso. The absence of James changes the offensive animation, but Thomas Müller, Goretzka or Renato Sanches are mobilizable in this area of play.
Faced with a theoretically weaker opponent, they beat 2-0 in the first leg in Greece, but the champions of Germany have little right to make mistakes. A three-day first Bundesliga season against Dortmund, the Bavarian club is going through a difficult time, and any result that a victory on Wednesday would revive speculation about the future of Kovac.
The coach, who readily admits that his team is not currently successful, expects "a match as difficult as going to Athens" , where Bayern has harvested many opportunities before opening the mark in the 61st minute only, by Martinez, to finally win 2-0.