Bayern Munich have suffered a major blow with the loss of key defender Alphonso Davies, who is set to miss the rest of the season due to a knee injury. The Canadian left-back picked up the injury while playing for his national team and is expected to be sidelined for several months.
Bayern confirmed on Wednesday that Davies has sustained an ACL injury in his right knee. The club also announced that he would undergo surgery the same day.
The injury happened during the third-place playoff match of the CONCACAF Nations League against the United States. Davies was forced to leave the pitch in the 12th minute of the match, which Canada won 2-1. However, Bayern later confirmed that the 23-year-old would be out for an extended period.
With the season entering its final phase, Davies’ absence is a significant setback for Bayern. His participation in the newly formatted FIFA Club World Cup in June-July is also in serious doubt. Bayern’s sporting director, Max Eberl, expressed his disappointment at the timing of the injury.
“Unfortunately, there is always a risk of players returning injured from international breaks… This time, it hit us hard with Davies’ injury,” Eberl said.
Upamecano Also Sidelined
Bayern’s defensive worries don’t end there. Another key defender, Dayot Upamecano, is also out with a knee injury. However, his condition is not as severe as Davies’. The French defender is expected to be sidelined for a few weeks.
Tough Schedule Ahead
Despite the injuries, Bayern remain six points clear at the top of the Bundesliga table ahead of second-placed Bayer Leverkusen. They are set to face St. Pauli on Saturday, followed by a match against Augsburg six days later.
On April 8, the six-time European champions will take on Inter Milan in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. With two of their key defenders sidelined, Bayern face a challenging road ahead in both domestic and European competitions.
