Bayern Munich are hopeful of having defender David Alaba available for their Champions League clash with Tottenham next month following a spell on the sidelines.
Alaba, who suffered a hamstring injury earlier this month, has missed Bayern’s last three matches including their group stage opener, a 3-0 home win over Red Star. Their next Champions League fixture, a trip to Spurs on October 1st, could end up deciding who finishes top of the group.
Tottenham and Bayern are favourites to go through to the knockout stages from Group B, though the Londoners are in need of a result after dropping points in their opening fixture against Olympiacos. Just like last season, it seems Spurs are making things difficult for themselves, and a meeting with Bayern isn’t really the fixture they need next.
But that’s the reality, and the German champions may have a key defender back in contention for the match.
Via Bavarian Football Works, Bayern boss Niko Kovac said: “David is making very good progress. We hope that he can already be [available] for Tottenham. Now we must raise the intensity daily before he can start training with the team. Currently he is on a very good path. The game in Paderborn comes just a little bit too early.”
That means whoever plays at right-back for Tottenham – probably Serge Aurier – may have a tough time finding space to attack down the right. What’s more, Alaba will provide overlapping runs that will need to be tracked.
How do you rate Spurs’ chances against Bayern? Let us know in the comments section below.
Bayern 2 x Tottenham 0
bayern 3….spurs 1