Bayern Munich secured a point on a visit to Emirates Stadium in the first leg of the Champions League’s quarter-final. But the accomplishment comes with a price as one of their wingers, as well as goal scorer, Serge Gnabry was pulled off due to injury.
Bayern’s manager Thomas Tuchel confirmed it was a hamstring and Gnabry is predicted to miss the next fixture against FC Koln. Gnabry put Bayern levelled in the first half but after the break he was replaced by Kingsley Coman. It was his first time playing and scoring against his former club Arsenal in any competition.
“Unfortunately, Serge Gnabry will be out again. ,” Tuchel said in a post-match interview. He felt something and it was a hamstring injury. It doesn’t look good for the second leg.”
Serge Gnabry’s injury is not new this season
Gnabry just returned from a muscle injury in February. He was sidelined since December and missed 11 games for Bayern in the process. This season, he just appeared in 17 games for his team, scoring three across the competitions.
This injury setback could put him away from the pitch in the second leg at Allianz Arena. Bayern would fight badly for the title as they are close to missing this season’s Bundesliga due to Bayer Leverkusen’s impressive run throughout the season.
Thomas Tuchel’s masterclass tactic
After the draw at Emirates, Bayern’s sporting director Max Eberl praised Thomas Tuchel’s tactic which was successfully effective in countering Arsenal at their own ground. Owing to this result, Eberl can’t wait to watch the second leg at Allianz.
“Thomas Tuchel set the team up very well, highlighted the mistakes that Arsenal can make and the team capitalized very well,” Eberl said via the club’s website. “We were aggressive in tackles and threw ourselves into every challenge. We saw at 2-2 that that doesn’t always work, but overall it was a very mature performance.
“We hardly allowed the opposition any chances and had one or two counter-attacks ourselves. In the end, the result is okay. I’m looking forward to the second leg, with our fans in the Allianz Arena behind us, where we want to finish off what we started today.”
The Bavarian-based team have won six titles since winning it for the first time in 1974. The last time Bayern won the Champions League was in 2020, beating Paris Saint-Germain in the final.
Also Read: Arsenal vs Bayern Munich Match Report as the First Leg Ends in Dramatic Draw!