Bayern Munich have been dealt a devastating blow with the fitness of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer ahead of their Champions League quarter-final showdown with Arsenal.
The German champions are reuniting with their North London counterparts after a string of last-16 successes over the Gunners, whom they demolished 10-2 on aggregate at that stage in the 2016-17 season.
Bayern also eliminated Arsene Wenger's men at the same stage in the 2012-13 and 2013-14 campaigns, and each of their last three meetings with the Gunners has seen the Bavarians triumph 5-1.
However, Arsenal and Bayern reunite on differing trajectories, as Mikel Arteta's squad currently top the Premier League table, while their Bundesliga counterparts seem destined to miss out on a 12th successive title to Bayer Leverkusen.
Thomas Tuchel - who will step down from his position as Bayern manager at the end of the season - has now received a worrying update over first-choice stopper Neuer, who has withdrawn from the Germany squad with a serious injury.
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The 37-year-old was called up to the Mannschaft camp for their upcoming friendlies with France and the Netherlands, but he has been forced to withdraw after tearing an adductor muscle during a training session on Wednesday morning.
A statement from the DFB read: "Manuel Neuer left early due to a torn muscle fiber in his left adductor and is out of the two upcoming international matches. He sustained the injury in training that morning."
Bayern released their own update but did not put a timeframe on Neuer's recovery time, adding: "Manuel Neuer tore a muscle fibre in his left adductor during training for the German national team.
"This was the result of an investigation by the DFB medical department. The FC Bayern captain is out of the upcoming international matches against France and the Netherlands and will return to Munich."
At this stage, it remains unclear how severe the German's problem is, but he has just under three weeks to make a full recovery if he is to guard the posts for the first leg of Bayern's quarter-final tie with Arsenal, which takes place at the Emirates on April 9.
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Tuchel's men will then host their Premier League counterparts at the Allianz Arena in the second leg eight days later, where either Sven Ulreich or Daniel Peretz will have to deputise in goal if Neuer is unavailable.
Since recovering from the leg fracture he sustained during a skiing accident midway through the 2022-23 season, Neuer has captained Bayern in each of their last 24 games in all competitions, keeping nine clean sheets in the process.
In addition to their first-choice goalkeeper, Bayern also suffered an alarming concern with star striker Harry Kane, who hurt his ankle when colliding with the goal post in their recent win over SV Darmstadt 98.
The England captain linked up with his national team in spite of his issue, but he did not take part in full training on Wednesday and is still a doubt for their upcoming battles with Brazil and Belgium.
Winger Kingsley Coman was also unable to join the France squad due to a severe knee injury, while right-back Sacha Boey tore a hamstring muscle in training on Wednesday and is also set to sit out the Arsenal double-header.
Ben Knapton
