There is one thing you can always count on from Miroslav Klose and that's performance. Whether he's at the FCB training grounds or on the pitch for a match, Miro is always giving 110%. He's been, in previous years, the go to guy for Werder Bremen and he's stepped in and found his footing in Munich now.
Unfortunately, due to a carry over ban that followed him from Bremen, Miro will be unavailable for the opening UEFA Cup match at home on Thursday.
Despite all this, Klose is unavailable for Thursday’s UEFA Cup opener at home to Lisbon outfit Belenenses, as the 29-year-old was sent off for a second bookable offence in Werder Bremen’s semi-final defeat to Espanyol of Barcelona last season (picture).
Klose must serve an automatic carry-over ban for the sending-off and will be watching from the stands as his team-mates pursue a good going-in position for the second leg on 4 October in Lisbon.
"A clean sheet would be good, but it won’t be easy. Belenenses are no Sunday league side, they have plenty of talented Brazilians," Bastian Schweinsteiger warned on Monday.
The Germany international is fit and raring to go in the clash with the Portuguese Cup finalists, but there are question-marks over Lucio, Christian Lell and Mark van Bommel for the first round fixture at the Allianz Arena, not yet completely sold out on this occasion.
Lucio has a dose of the flu, while Lell (ankle) and Van Bommel (inflammation) picked up knocks in Saturday’s draw with Schalke.
"There’s been no change in the situation," coach Ottmar Hitzfeld informed after the trio missed Sunday training and again reported for treatment the following day.
"We’ll have to wait and see if they’re fit to train tomorrow," the boss continued.
Van Bommel is certain he will recover in time: "It basically shouldn’t be a problem."
Luca Toni was only capable of a restricted programme on Monday.
The Italian, who resumed playing at the weekend after a two-week lay-off with a torn muscle, focused on regeneration followed by a jog around the training ground.
He is not currently rated doubtful for Thursday.
Source: fcbayern
With Klose out and Toni likely to miss, Bayern has to hope that van Bommel is fit come Thursday. Without their attacking duo Bayern will have to rely on some of their relievers, which isn't necessarily a bad option as they have plenty to choose from, but without their midfield mad man, van Bommel, someone will have to step up and take command of the team. And when it comes to van Bommel's direction to his teammates from the midfield, those are some pretty big cleats to fill.