MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) – Champions Bayern Munich are scuffling with COVID-19 circumstances and an ongoing dialogue on gamers’ vaccinations, with defenders Josip Stanisic and Niklas Suele sidelined after optimistic checks, as they put together to face Augsburg in Friday’s Bavarian derby.
Suele examined optimistic earlier this month, forcing 4 workforce mates – Serge Gnabry, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Jamal Musiala and Joshua Kimmich – to enter isolation till two days in the past.
Kimmich, who has not been vaccinated after voicing his considerations over potential long-term results, has been on the coronary heart of an ongoing dialogue about whether or not high footballers ought to all take the shot given their position mannequin perform in society.
Followers for the sport must have both proof of vaccination or proof of getting recovered from an an infection.
Kimmich will, nonetheless, keep in the identical resort with the workforce for the journey to Augsburg, benefiting from an exception in new well being guidelines issued by the state of Bavaria, that permits for skilled journey and lodging of non-vaccinated individuals.
Bayern, chasing an unprecedented tenth consecutive league crown, are 4 factors away from second-placed Borussia Dortmund and with a league file 40-goal haul after 11 Bundesliga matches, few would guess in opposition to them in Augsburg.
However the hosts know that if the champions usually are not absolutely centered on the sport in the beginning, they might have an opportunity.
“We all know we’re outsiders and from 10 matches Bayern will win 9, usually. However we’ll nonetheless attempt to get factors,” Augsburg coach Markus Weinzierl stated.
“We’ll want an ideal day, an ideal goalkeeper on the day. A variety of issues should come collectively. We’ve got to be alert from the beginning. Nevertheless it’s theoretically attainable. We have executed it twice earlier than throughout my spells at Augsburg.”
Weinzierl additionally coached the membership between 2012-16 earlier than returning late final season. His workforce beat Bayern at dwelling in 2014 and earned an away win in Munich a yr later.
“Bayern have high quality. That a lot is obvious. However in our final three dwelling video games, we bought seven factors,” Weinzierl stated.
“Particularly defensively, we’ve got to be secure, we’ve got to be current and grow to be a troublesome opponent, spoil their sport.”
Dortmund, who’re with out injured striker Erling Haaland, host VfB Stuttgart. Freiburg, in third place and two factors behind on 22, entertain Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Enhancing by Shrivathsa Sridhar)
