BERLIN: Bayern Munich are counting the cost of Wednesday’s hard-fought 1-0 win over Union Berlin, with German media reporting midfielders Konrad Laimer and Joshua Kimmich are set for injury layoffs.
Laimer looks set to miss between six and eight weeks with a calf injury, German tabloid Bild reported on Thursday.
Laimer was replaced in the 87th minute of Wednesday’s win, which took the German champions to within four points of leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
After the game, coach Thomas Tuchel said he was “worried” about the midfielder’s injury.
Laimer told reporters his calf muscle “went crazy and closed up after taking a step.”
Bild also reported that Kimmich will miss Saturday’s trip to Augsburg with a shoulder injury, joining center-back Dayot Upamecano, who injured his hamstring in the victory, on the sidelines.
Tuchel said a diagnosis confirmed the tear, telling reporters the France defender would be missing for “weeks not days” with the injury.
The Bayern manager said he felt “a little bit jinxed” by the club’s injury misfortunes.
With Min-jae Kim away on Asia Cup duty with South Korea, Bayern only have one fit central defender in Matthijs de Ligt.
Eric Dier, who has arrived from Spurs, can play center-back and replaced the injured Upamecano at half-time to make his Bayern debut.
Forward Serge Gnabry is also battling to return from a muscle complaint. The Germany forward last played in early December, coming off the bench and playing five minutes before being subbed out with injury.
While the club has not confirmed Gnabry’s injury, German media reports the former Arsenal player could be missing until March.
‘Jinxed’ Bayern hit by Laimer and Kimmich injury layoffs: reports
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‘Jinxed’ Bayern hit by Laimer and Kimmich injury layoffs: reports
- Laimer looks set to miss between six and eight weeks with a calf injury
- Bild also reported that Kimmich will miss Saturday’s trip to Augsburg with a shoulder injury, joining center-back Dayot Upamecano
Estudiantes beat Racing on penalties to claim Argentine Clausura title
- Estudiantes de la Platas will face Apertura champions Platense in Champions Trophy
- Estudiantes had a difficult buildup to the final, with their president Juan Sebastian Veron and the team’s starting lineup being handed suspensions by Argentina’s FA last month
SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO: Estudiantes de La Plata goalkeeper Fernando Muslera’s heroics inspired his side to a 5-4 penalty shootout win over Racing Club in the Argentine Torneo Clausura final at the Estadio Madre de Ciudades in Santiago del Estero on Saturday.
The win sealed a first title for Estudiantes since they won the 2010 Apertura and will see them face this year’s Apertura champions Platense in next weekend’s Champions Trophy.
“This team is incredible,” Uruguayan Muslera said.
“I have no words to describe the emotion and joy I feel now for having contributed to getting here when at one point we weren’t close.”
Tempers flare
Tempers flared in the second half after Racing’s Adrian Martinez committed a heavy foul on Santiago Nunez, sparking protests from the Estudiantes players and calls for a red card.
However, he escaped with a yellow card, a decision met with jeers from sections of the crowd.
The 57th minute brought some nervous moments for Racing as goalkeeper Facundo Cambeses collided with Guido Carrillo during a corner and required medical treatment twice before being declared fit to continue.
The breakthrough came 10 minutes from time when a miscommunication in Estudiantes’ defense allowed Martinez to pounce, drilling the ball past Muslera to spark wild celebrations among the Racing supporters.
Estudiantes fought back in added time, with Carrillo directing a header on target following a set piece to level the match and send the encounter to extra time.
“It’s an inexplicable emotion. This is the reward for supporting a club that always bounces back, even when it seems to be down and out,” said Carrillo, who missed a string of key games for Estudiantes due to a four-match suspension for a dangerous challenge.
“It was unjustified that ban. The last few weeks have been very difficult, but this group secured the victories, which is a testament to their character and ability to rise to the occasion in the most challenging of situations.”
Extra time and penalties
Racing’s Adrian Fernandez had an excellent opportunity to score with seconds remaining in extra time but he blasted his shot wide from tight angle, a miss that Racing would go on to rue.
Both goalkeepers made excellent saves to send the penalty shootout to sudden death, with Estudiantes substitute Facundo Rodriguez holding his nerve to send an effort squirming past Cambeses and give his side a 5-4 lead.
Franco Pardo stepped up to keep Racing’s hopes alive but his effort was diverted onto the post by Muslera to ensure victory for Estudiantes.
Estudiantes’ path to final
Estudiantes had a difficult buildup to the final, with their president Juan Sebastian Veron and the team’s starting lineup being handed suspensions by Argentina’s FA last month after refusing to form a guard of honor for Rosario Central.
Rosario, who were declared league champions after a rule change, won the new title by ending the regular season of the Apertura and Clausura tournaments with a combined 66 points.
Estudiantes’ players turned their backs on Rosario’s players when they walked onto the pitch for Sunday’s Clausura last-16 game, protesting at their opponents being crowned champions, a title not bestowed based on combined points in the competition’s original rules.
