Bayern Munich face a major injury scare as star forward Harry Kane fights to be fit for the upcoming Champions League quarterfinal against Real Madrid. The 32-year-old suffered an ankle injury during a training session with England during the international break, forcing him to miss the recent friendly against Japan at Wembley. While the German giants maintain a comfortable nine-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga, the loss of their primary goalscorer ahead of a trip to the Bernabeu has put the club on edge.
Manager Vincent Kompany confirmed the blow during his pre-match briefing, ruling Kane out of Saturday's Bundesliga clash against Freiburg. Despite the setback, Kompany remains hopeful that the striker can recover in time for Tuesday's first leg in Spain.
“Harry trained well until Sunday, then he felt something in his ankle while with the national team. That will have an impact on tomorrow's game -- he won't be available,” Kompany said in the pre-match press conference.
“Nevertheless, I'm positive about Tuesday. It's not great, I'd like him to play against Freiburg, but as things stand today that won't be possible,” the Belgian added.
Kane’s injury and impact on England
The timing is particularly worrying given Kane's historic form this season. With 53 goals in just 45 appearances for club and country, he is the undisputed focal point of the Bayern attack. His absence was glaringly obvious during the international break as England looked toothless without him, slumping to a 1-0 defeat against Japan after a 1-1 draw against Uruguay. With the FIFA World Cup approaching this summer, his fitness has become a primary concern for both Thomas Tuchel and the Bayern hierarchy.
The Bavarian side will be desperate for a positive update before they fly out to face the Spanish giants. If Kane cannot lead the line at the Bernabeu, Bayern will have to find a way to replace his 78-goal international pedigree against the most successful team in the competition’s history. The return leg is set for Munich eight days later, but the immediate focus remains on whether the clinical Englishman can pass a late fitness test. In case he misses out, Nicholas Jackson could start for the German champions.
