Kompany leaves Bayern’s goalkeeping decision open before Leipzig

Vincent Kompany has left Bayern Munich’s goalkeeping choice unresolved ahead of Saturday’s match against Leipzig. There are doubts over Manuel Neuer’s readiness, with the goalkeeper also serving as captain. At Friday’s press conference, the coach said Neuer had not trained the previous day and that his condition needed to be assessed before a decision was made.

“I don’t want to play doctor,” Kompany said, explaining that the injury was to Neuer’s foot, not his thigh or shoulder. He suggested the absence should not be long, while leaving open the possibility of a return the next day or the following week. Neuer must first feel better before resuming training.

In a report attributed to Sky Sport, Jonas Urbig was expected to start against Leipzig, with the decision taken late in the afternoon. Neuer had already missed the match against Norway’s Viking through injury; it ended in a 3-3 draw. Kompany had said then that his goalkeeper was feeling pain in his foot, paving the way for Urbig.

Bayern Munich are third in the Bundesliga with 11 points, two behind leaders Freiburg. The goalkeeping decision is therefore part of the preparations for an important fixture for a team well placed in the table.