Injured Bayern Munich trio to return against Darmstadt

Bayern Munich revealed on Friday that the injured trio of Medhi Benatia, Mario Gotze, and Franck Ribery could play a part in Saturday's match against Darmstadt. The three players have missed significant time this season, and their returns will be welcome by the club.

"They're ready," Guardiola said. "They're fit, but I don't know for how many minutes."

Ribery made the squad for last weekend's match against Augsburg, but he didn't see the field. When he returned from his long ankle injury, Ribery only featured in two matches away from home before going out with this most recent injury. If he appears against Darmstadt, it will be the first time in eleven months that he's played at the Allianz Arena.

Götze has been out since falling to an injury during Germany's Euro 2016 qualification campaign. He was starting to round into form before the injury curtailed his Hinrunde. He will give Pep Guardiola more options off the bench as he works to gain back match fitness.

Benatia's return will be well received by a defense devoid of centerbacks. With Jerome Boateng, Javi Martinez, and Holger Badstuber out with injuries, it will be paramount that Bayern get Benatia up to speed for  the "business end" of the season.

Serdar Tasci, Bayern's only winter transfer, is also ready to make his debut. Guardiola had this to say about the man on loan from Spartak Moscow: "He's got a lot of character, good vision and he's great on the ball. I'm happy to have him."

With Bayern traveling to Turin midweek for their Champions League match with Juventus, it's not out of the realm of possibilities that several of them see the field in some form or fashion against Darmstadt.