Manuel Neuer, the goalkeeper for Bayern Munich, is preparing for his return following a 10-month injury absence, and it might happen as soon as this weekend against Mainz 05, who are now at the bottom of the Bundesliga.
After they were eliminated from the World Cup in the first round in December 2022, the German international has been sidelined since injuring his leg while on vacation skiing.
According to sources, the club’s medical staff has granted the 37-year-old player the all-clear to resume playing, so he may be fit for Saturday.
Bayern, who have not yet remarked, have depended on veteran backup goalkeeper Sven Ulreich this season and signed Israeli Daniel Peretz, 23, in August.
This season, Ulreich has assisted them in keeping three clean sheets in league play; they last did so in the first seven games of a season in 2017.
However, Neuer is not the only player returning from injury; this week, Matthijs de Ligt and Serge Gnabry, who sustained arm fractures, returned to team practice.
The Bavarians are in excellent form and are yet to lose in the Bundesliga this season. They now sit third with 17 points, two behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
With 23 goals scored thus far, they have the strongest offensive in the league, led by six goals from winger Leroy Sane.
With more goals than he has ever scored in the first half of a Bundesliga season, the Germany forward is in excellent form.
With Mainz giving up 19 goals, Sane will face the league’s joint-worst defense.
Leverkusen, now leading the league and undefeated after their finest start in years, visit Vfl Wolfsburg with the hopes of extending their winning streak to four games.
Victor Boniface and his teammates have already caught the attention of top European teams thanks to their aggressive style of play, which has made Xabi Alonso’s squad the season’s biggest surprise thus far.
Serhou Guirassy, the league’s leading scorer with an astonishing 13 goals thus far for VfB Stuttgart, travels to Union Berlin. This Champions League team has dropped their past seven games across all competitions.
Leverkusen is one point ahead of Stuttgart with 18 points after six victories and one loss.
Borussia Dortmund, who finished second last season and are both undefeated with 17 points, might temporarily assume the top place on Friday if they defeat lowly visitors Werder Bremen.
