Next Bayern absentee? This is the status of Leon Goretzka | OneFootball

A hard kick, a moment of shock and a lot of excitement: Leon Goretzka suffered an ankle injury during FC Bayern’s away win against RB Leipzig. Now it’s clear how bad it really is.

A murmur went through the Red Bull Arena in the 28th minute of the match when Leipzig’s Nicolas Seiwald stepped roughly on Leon Goretzka’s foot, leaving the international lying there for several minutes, his face contorted in pain. After brief treatment, the midfielder continued to play until the break, but had to leave the pitch at half-time, replaced by Joshua Kimmich.

Many fans and experts initially feared a serious injury, with Seiwald’s hard tackle suggesting the worst. However, the all-clear was given shortly after the final whistle: according to Sky, Goretzka only suffered a bruise. It remains to be seen how long the 30-year-old will be out for, but a longer absence does not appear to be on the cards.

The incident sparked heated debate immediately after the foul, with several Bayern officials rushing to the touchline to demand a sending-off. However, Leipzig’s Seiwald got away with a yellow card – a decision that was not met with universal understanding.

Goretzka’s prospects still unclear

photo: IMAGO

Despite the all-clear, the incident represents another setback in an already difficult season for Goretzka. The central midfielder was initially only on the bench in the season opener against VfL Wolfsburg, where coach Vincent Kompany opted for the young double-six of Aleksandar Pavlovic and Tom Bischof – a sign of the internal competition. After his substitution in Wolfsburg, Goretzka put in a decent performance and was in the starting eleven in Cologne during the week, but he was once again overshadowed by his colleagues in the match against Leipzig.

His role at FC Bayern therefore remains unclear for the time being. The 30-year-old’s contract expires in the summer and his sporting future at the record champions is open. Nevertheless, CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen recently emphasised that Goretzka is firmly planned for the second half of the season.

The match against RB Leipzig nevertheless had a clearly positive outcome for Munich in sporting terms. After falling behind early on, FC Bayern turned the game around completely in the second half and ended up with a clear 5:1 victory. Michael Olise in particular stood out with three assists and a goal, although he only came on as a substitute after the break. The win extended Bayern’s lead in the table to eleven points and means they remain unbeaten in the Bundesliga.