Bayern keeper Neuer to miss top clash against Dortmund
Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in action during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Eintracht Frankfurt at the Allianz Arena. Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will miss the Bundesliga top clash against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday and it's doubtful for the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals at Inter Milan on Wednesday. Sven Hoppe/dpa
Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will miss the Bundesliga top clash against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday and it's doubtful for the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals at Inter Milan on Wednesday.
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"I'm presuming that nothing will change in terms of the squad for the Dortmund game. We also can't say anything yet about Manuel Neuer for the Inter second leg," coach Vincent Kompany said in a news conference on Friday.
Neuer has been sidelined with a calf muscle injury suffered in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 against Bayer Leverkusen. Newcomer Jonas Urbig has been in the starting line-up since then.
Bayern lost the first leg match to Inter 2-1, but need to quickly shift focus to the game against Dortmund and the Bundesliga title race, which they lead six points ahead of title holders Leverkusen.
"I think we can also draw strength and energy from what we did against Inter. Even with all the setbacks, we've got the feeling we're capable of winning every match, including tomorrow," Kompany said.
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The match between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund - which in Germany has been labelled "Der Klassiker" ("The Classic") - is usually a clash for the top position in the Bundesliga.
This time around, the teams come into Saturday's meeting with different goals in the league.
While Bayern have their eyes on the Bundesliga trophy, Dortmund, eighth in the standings, are struggling in the fight to secure qualification for next season's European competitions.
Kompany, however, believes that Der Klassiker "hasn't lost any of its gloss.
"Obviously the games against Leverkusen this season were also special. But I grew up with Bayern against Dortmund or Bayern against Bremen being big games. That's still the case," he said.
"We're at a point in the season where everything is important - every moment, every minute. We can't prioritise things. Everything is important and is a priority. The fact it's Der Klassiker is an extra ingredient."
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