BAYERN MUNICH have suffered a major blow ahead of their match against Manchester City.
The German champions are facing off against City in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.
Bayern are under new management after Thomas Tuchel was appointed following the club’s surprising sacking of Julian Nagelsmann.
However, they now will be facing Man City without the aid of top goalscorer Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.
The 34-year-old has scored 17 goals in all competitions this season, including four in the Champions League.
But, after complaining about a knee issue in Bayern’s shock 2-1 DFB-Pokal defeat to Freiburg, the club have now confirmed he will not travel with the team for the City clash.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
The former Stoke and Paris Saint-Germain star was left out of the side to face Freiburg again at the weekend.
It means Bayern will be without a recognised striker for the game, with 17-year-old Mathys Tel also sidelined through injury.
Furthermore, Tuchel will be without Manuel Neuer and Lucas Hernandez.
Choupo-Moting had scored three goals in his last four Bundesliga games before the injury.
Most read in Champions League
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
His absence is likely to see an old enemy of City return in the form of Sadio Mane.
The ex-Liverpool ace has struggled to adapt to life in Germany since his summer transfer.
He was deployed up front in the club’s clash with Freiburg over the weekend, and it stands to reason he may be given a similar role against Pep Guardiola’s side.
On-loan City star Joao Cancelo will also be in action against his parent club, while former star Leroy Sane is likely to play a part against his old side.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
