Munich [Germany], March 6: Bayern Munich will be without star striker Harry Kane for the first time in the Bundesliga this season on Friday but coach Vincent Kompany expects him to return for the Champions League next week.
Kompany said that league top scorer Kane would miss the game against Borussia Monchengladbach with a calf problem which he however considers not to be too serious.
"Harry Kane is out. He got a knock on his calf and hasn't recovered yet. It's just a knock, it's nothing serious for the time being, but we'd need maybe another a day for him to be involved," Kompany told a news conference on Thursday.
"Of course we would have liked Harry to be involved, but these things happen."
Kane has not started every match but scored 30 Bundesliga goals this season, including a brace in each of his last four games. He is chasing Robert Lewandowski's league record 41 season goals and due to missing Friday's game will have nine games left to reach it.
Optimism for Atalanta trip
Kompany said he doesn't expect Kane to miss Tuesday's Champions League last 16 first leg match at Italy's Atalanta as well.
"I don't think so. You can see my body language, I am pretty relaxed," Kompany said.
The coach added that Kane's absence opens the door for others to shine on Friday.
"The lads who are involved tomorrow against Gladbach are really looking forward to it. If Harry isn't involved, some of the lads are hoping they can get their moment," he said.
Neuer returns for
classic fixture
Defenders Hiroki Ito and Alphonso Davies are also out but captain and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer returns from a calf muscle injury, with Kompany simply saying: "He is fit." Bayern are seeking a sixth straight victory against Gladbach who were their big rivals from the 1970s and made life difficult for Bayern a few years ago, including a stunning 5-0 German Cup win in 2021.
Gladbach are now in the lower part of the table but Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund said that "it's a classic fixture, a big fan base, a club steeped in tradition with a lot of power.
"A special club that has achieved a lot and has an important history in football - and that's why we're really looking forward to this game."
Caution despite big lead
Bayern are 11 points clear at the top after winning last year's table topper 3-2 in Dortmund but Kompany is taking nothing for granted.
"We've had an 11-point lead before and we know how quickly that can change. We're just looking at our performance and our victories," he said. "It sounds like a cliche, but it's a way of life for me."
Busy period
The match starts a busy period with five games between Friday and March 21 as mid-week action returns in the form of the Atalanta tie - after a relatively quiet February with only one mid-week game.
"We're used to it. The funny thing was when we didn't have one, when we could enjoy a Sunday. What's coming up is what we're used to," Kompany said.
"We have the squad to play these games - and when we only have a few games, there are players who only get a few minutes; it's different this way. It's what our squad is built for."
Source: Qatar Tribune
