Alphonso Davies on Wednesday became the ninth Bayern player to test positive while Lucas Hernandez and Manuel Neuer are also in quarantine in Maldives having tested positive on separate Luxury holidays.
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Bundesliga resumes on Friday with COVID-hit Bayern Munich hosting Borussia Monchengladbach at the Allianz Arena. The Bavarians have a nine point lead at the summit and the side’s trailing the leaders will be hoping to close the gap by taking advantage of Bayern’s current situation. Alphonso Davies on Wednesday became the ninth Bayern player to test positive. Defender Lucas Hernandez and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer are also quarantine in Maldives having tested positive on separate Luxury holidays.
? Make some noise for the return of the #Bundesliga! ??
Where on planet ? will you be watching #BLmatchday 1️⃣8️⃣? pic.twitter.com/qZQP69rQc9
— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) January 7, 2022
Bayern will be bidding to make it eight straight wins in all competitions when they resume their 2021-22 league campaign against 14th-placed Monchengladbach. Since suffering a shock 2-1 defeat against Augsburg in November, Bayern have been in remarkable form, winning seven matches across two competitions.
Julian Nagelsmann’s side have registered five consecutive league wins, scoring nine and conceding zero in their last two matches against Stuttgart and Wolfsburg. The Bavarians have a healthy lead at the top with 43 points from 17 games, nine nine points above second-placed Borussia Dortmund.
However, Bayern has been badly hit by COVID-19 and sports director Hasan Salihamidzic said that in addition to injuries, at one stage this week the club was down to ten outfield playeras and two goalkeepers. Therefore, they boosted their squad with the Under-19 and reserve team players.
“My job is to prepare the team as if the match will take place- that’s what I am assuming.” Bayern head coach Nagelsmann said Thursday.
“We still have a starting eleven with a lot of world-class players and is very, very good.”
Star striker Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Mueller and Serge Gnabry are all set to feature. Lewandowski is having yet another sensational season for the club, having betted 30 times in 25 appearances in all competitions, including 19 in 17 outings in Germany’s top flight. Gnabry, who netted a hat-trick against Stuttgart is in sublime form.
Germany midfielder Joshua Kimmich could make his first appearance after nine weeks sidelined by Coronavirus infection. Nagelsmann has recalled midfielders Arijon Ibrahimovic and Paul Wanner, both 16, who were with the Germany Under-17 squad in Spain.
On the other hand, Monchengladbach are having one of their worst season’s in a decade as they have never finished lower than ninth in the Bundesliga since 2011, claiming fifth and fourth in two of their last three seasons. Adi Hutter’s side are without a victory in Germany’s top flight since beating Greuther Furth on November 20, and they are now just two points clear of 16th-placed Stuttgart and nine points adrift the top four.
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