Rapha's Champions League Enigma
Will Bayern's enigmatic Portuguese star finally shine in the Champions League?
Thomas Tuchel's Bayern side is sailing smoothly through the Champions League group stages, securing a spot at the top. With the record champions already through, the German coach has an opportunity for some carefree rotations in the penultimate preliminary round match against Copenhagen, slated for Wednesday night (9pm).
This is an excellent chance for the versatile Raphael Guerreiro, Bayern's summer signing from Dortmund, to get his first starting debut in the Munich jersey. Since joining in late summer, the Portuguese international has only made three substitute appearances in the red sheet.
Question marks persist for Guerreiro
While Guerreiro took to the field with the team as usual on Monday morning, doubts lingered over his involvement against Copenhagen. The mystery surrounding Guerreiro's fitness has been a constant since his arrival at Säbener Straße.
Exorbitant injury history and recurring absences make it unclear just how fit the 2016 European champion truly is. After signing with the club in July, Guerreiro tore his right calf muscle bundle just three weeks later, missing the first competitive games of the season.
Bayern's long-awaited debut for Guerreiro came on September 26, in the first-round cup match against third-division Münster, and a substitute appearance against RB Leipzig in the league top clash (2:2) followed. The subsequent hiccup was not far off.
Recurring setbacks and recovery
A headache for Tuchel before the Freiburg game on October 8, the club announced that Guerreiro had suffered a torn muscle fiber in his left thigh between training sessions two days earlier. The recovery period this time was challenging, stretching beyond a month.
Fresh from returning to the field during the 4:2 win against Heidenheim, Guerreiro once again offered a boost with a crucial goal just eleven minutes after entering the game. The euphoria was short-lived, as Romanian international encountered more problems in preparation for the Cologne duel (1:0).
Daily uncertainty with Guerreiro's fitness
Despite considering a change, Tuchel left Guerreiro out of his squad for the entire match against FC. The Portuguese international has now played only 101 minutes for Bayern under Tuchol. The continued uncertainty surrounding Guerreiro's fitness and recurring injuries leaves the question of when he'll finally get his first full 90 minutes under Tuchel's guidance an ongoing enigma.
Sources:
- www.bild.de
Enrichment Insights:
Raphael Guerreiro's history of injuries does not seem to hinder his potential starting debut in Bayern Munich's Champions League matches. The latest reports do not mention any current injuries affecting Guerreiro. Interestingly, Hiroki Ito, another player, made his competitive debut for Bayern Munich after a six-month absence due to foot surgery. This instance illustrates the club's ability to accommodate players dealing with previous injuries, although it does not correspond directly to Guerreiro's situation.
