Out of action: Bayern fears for Aleksandar Pavlovic | OneFootball

The German World Cup dream is alive – but from FC Bayern’s point of view there is also bad news after the furious 6-0 win against Slovakia. Aleksandar Pavlovic had to be substituted at the break with an injury, causing new personnel worries for the record champions.

The German national team booked their World Cup ticket with an impressive display of attacking fireworks. Several Bayern stars impressed in the 6-0 win over Slovakia: Joshua Kimmich with a strong performance, Serge Gnabry as goalscorer and provider and Leon Goretzka as a central driving force. But amidst the positive impressions, there is a drop of bitterness – and it concerns one of Munich’s strongest players.

Aleksandar Pavlovic had a strong first half, shaping the German game with his overview, composure and clever build-up play. The 21-year-old was directly involved in the 2:0. This made his substitution at the break all the more surprising. According to ZDF, this was initially just a measure to manage his workload.

photo: IMAGO

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann, on the other hand, revealed after the game that Pavlovic was unable to continue due to calf problems. It remains unclear for the time being how serious the complaints are – a more precise diagnosis is expected in the coming days. This is the worst possible time for FC Bayern, as Pavlovic has developed into a key player in Kompany’s system in recent weeks.

Kimmich gives the all-clear

At least there was some good news from Munich: Joshua Kimmich was able to play from the start again after his capsule injury. The DFB captain delivered a stable performance, set up the 1-0 and was substituted after 64 minutes. Afterwards, Kimmich explained how important the national team’s medical department was for his timely return: „A big thank you to our physiotherapists and doctors who made sure I was fit for the game.“

So while Kimmich is back, Pavlovic remains a question mark, with Bayern hoping that the calf problems are merely muscular in nature and will not result in any extended downtime.