Gnabry will ´probably´ miss Bayern´s Champions League tie with Barcelona

Serge Gnabry will “probably” miss Bayern Munich’s Champions League opener against Barcelona on Tuesday, according to Hasan Salihamidzic. 

A back problem forced Gnabry off in first-half stoppage time during Bayern’s 4-1 victory at RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga on Saturday. 

The 26-year-old started two of Germany’s three World Cup qualifiers during the international break and was introduced as a second-half substitute in the other. 

Salihamidzic was frustrated that Gnabry sustained an injury after playing in all those matches, while Borussia Dortmund captain Marco Reus left early with a knee injury but recovered in time to face Bayer Leverkusen this weekend. 

Reus withdrew from selection for Euro 2020 but had said he wanted to play “an important role” for Germany ahead of the three qualifiers. 

“I find it surprising when you leave the national team and then play again a few days later. Our players stay and play anyway,” Salihamidzic told Sky. 

“It’s not the first time either. When you’re injured, okay, you drop out, but otherwise… Serge Gnabry stayed there. He’ll probably be out against Barcelona now, but that’s just the way it is. 

WCQ EP3 pic.twitter.com/fTMqVHYFUr

— Serge Gnabry (@SergeGnabry) September 9, 2021

“If you want to be a leader, you always have to be there. Otherwise, a team won’t work. What [Joshua] Kimmich does, what [Manuel] Neuer does, what [Leon] Goretzka does – that’s leadership for me. The coach can rely on that.” 

On Gnabry’s availability to face Barcelona, he added: “It’s getting really tight. He’s been treated and it’s already better. I was there today and saw him. We’ll have to see if it’s enough.” 

However, Bayern could be boosted by the return to fitness of Kingsley Coman. 

Coman withdrew from France duty due to a calf injury and reportedly returned to training in Bavaria on Sunday. 

Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann is also confident of having Robert Lewandowski available for selection following the striker’s early withdrawal against Leipzig for “precautionary reasons”.