The absence of 6 players from Bayern Munich .. An opportunity for Barcelona to qualify
Lewandowski is not on the absentee list.
AFP
Six high-profile players will miss the already qualified Bayern Munich squad when they host Barcelona in their last Champions League Group E game, but coach Julian Nagelsmann said the team would nonetheless strive to finish the group stage with a full mark.
The Bavarian giant has already qualified for the knockout stage with five victories from five matches so far and will seek to win the sixth match, while Barcelona, who is second with seven points, needs to win to book the second qualification from the group.
The Spanish team will also qualify if they draw, provided that Benfica, who has five points, fails to beat Dynamo Kiev, bottom of the standings.
Nagelsmann said he will replace Leon Goretzka and Serge Gnabry, who suffer from two minor injuries, while striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting is still suffering from the effects of Covid-19 infection.
The Bayern coach added that Joshua Kimmich, who was absent for four weeks after entering the stone twice due to Covid-19, and Mikael Quizance and Marcel Sabitzer had not yet regained their full fitness.
"Joshua will undergo tests tomorrow (Wednesday), but he will be absent because he has not played for four weeks," Nagelsmann said in a virtual press conference.
He added that he would give many young players the opportunity to participate in the match and prove themselves, but he would nonetheless push the strongest possible squad and his top scorer Robert Lewandowski would not rest.
"We want to get the full mark in the group stage," Nagelsmann added. "Qualifying with a sixth win would be great."
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