Bayern Munich’s defence will have to be overhauled for the visit of lowly St Pauli on Saturday following injuries to Alphonso Davies and Dayot Upamecano, with the Bundesliga leaders in need of a win to remain on course for the title.
The Bavarians, who face Inter Milan in the Champions League quarter-finals next month, have gone two games without a Bundesliga victory and their lead over second-placed Bayer Leverkusen has been cut to six points.
Bayern are top with 62 while reigning champions Leverkusen are on 56. Mainz 05 are in third place with 45.
The Bundesliga leaders must reshuffle their rearguard after left back Davies suffered an ACL tear to his right knee in the 12th minute of Canada’s 2-1 win over the United States in the CONCACAF Nations League third-place playoff on Sunday.
The 24-year-old will miss the rest of the season in a major blow to Bayern coach Vincent Kompany’s plans.
Bayern will also be without Upamecano for weeks after the Frenchman finished his country’s Nations League quarter-final shootout win over Croatia but picked up a knee injury.
The pair are Bayern’s quickest defenders and most suited to Kompany’s high-pressing, quick transition game, with likely replacements Eric Dier, Josip Stanisic or Hiroki Ito lacking some of their pace.
Whatever the final lineup, Bayern will look to avoid another home debacle after their 3-2 loss to visitors VfL Bochum in their most recent home game, after leading 2-0.
They followed that up with a 1-1 draw at Union Berlin before going into the international break last week.
Despite their injury setbacks, Bayern will not budge from their season targets, said sports director Max Eberl.
“The absences of Alphonso Davies and Dayot Upamecano are a big blow for Bayern,” Eberl said.
“But our squad is strong enough and will make up for these absences. This will bring us even closer together. We have the quality to remain focused on all our major goals this season.”
Bayern, who are aiming to reclaim the league title after Leverkusen’s domestic double-winning campaign last season, are also determined to reach the Champions League final to be played in their own Allianz Arena.
Leverkusen, who needed a stoppage-time winner to overcome VfB Stuttgart 4-3 on the last matchday, will bid to keep their title hopes alive with a win over strugglers Bochum on Friday and pile more pressure on Bayern.
Surprise package Mainz travel to Borussia Dortmund on Sunday, with the hosts languishing in 11th place and at serious risk of missing out on next season’s Champions League.
Dortmund face Barcelona in their Champions League quarter-final next month.
