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The status of Isco and Carvajal does not look good for Real Madrid (Bild)
It is a real shame; I am shedding tears. Oh, the horror! Two injuries.
(Takes look at the Bayern Munich injury list and immediately grabs a beer)
According to Spanish media, Zinedine Zidane will be without two of his regular starters when Bayern Munich travel to Madrid for the second leg of their Champions League semifinal tie on Tuesday. Both central attacking midfielder Isco and right-back Dani Carvajal will be unavailable.
Isco suffered a shoulder injury early in the match after a collision with Jerome Boateng. He was replaced by Marco Asensio in the break, who later scored the winning goal 2-1 after a fateful mistake by Rafinha. Asensio could start in the second leg for Isco. Gareth Bale is also reportedly not literally glued to Madrid’s bench.
Carvajal strained his thigh halfway through the second half in Munich. It is less clear who might replace him, although Lucas Vazquez is an option. Carvajal told Spanish newspaper AS: “I’m in pain.” Aren’t we all?
We will bring you a box of tissues, Madridistas...
Bayern’s transfer target list (FussballTransfers.com)
FussballTransfer.com broke down the players that Bayern has been scouting over the course of the season, which includes the following:
- Matthijs de Ligt (18, Ajax Amsterdam)
- Diogo Dalot (19, Porto)
- Emre Can (24, Liverpool)
- Omar Mascarell (25, Eintracht Frankfurt)
- Anthony Martial (22, Manchester United)
- Jann-Fiete Arp (18, Hamburger SV)
Who would I like? Well, thanks for asking. I would really go after Arp and de Ligt. If Bayern plans to shed at least two or three players from its midfield glut (Arturo Vidal, Thiago Alcantara, Sebastian Rudy, Javi Martinez, James Rodriguez as possibilities that have been bandied about), I would possibly consider Can, but not otherwise. Dalot and Martial are intriguing for sure, but I would wait to see how the status of Juan Bernat, Rafinha, Jerome Boateng and Arjen Robben / Frank Ribery plays out. With Serge Gnabry and Leon Goretzka already coming in and Lars Lukas Mai signing a contract today, there will be some interesting roster decisions to be made.
Paulinho shuns Bayern for Bayer Leverkusen (ESPN / Globo Esporte)
Adding to its impressive arsenal of young players, Die Werkself have signed Bayern target Paulinho. We originally reported this here, and sure enough Leverkusen acted quickly in wrapping up the youngster.
Paulinho, from Vasco da Gama, will transfer officially to Leverkusen after his 18th birthday in July, presumably signing a professional contract then. Bayer Leverkusen reportedly paid a fee of €20 million for Pauinho, some 65% of which will go directly to Vasco da Gama. Paulinho is currently injured with a broken arm.
Paulinho might not make the starting XI any time soon, but Leverkusen is clearly looking to take the mantle from Borussia Dortmund as Bayern’s primary Bundesliga competition.
LEAKED: Bayern’s starting lineup tomorrow against Eintracht Frankfurt (Instagram - berni_fcb)
Berni will make his debut as Bayern’s striker/goalkeeper as he also wears the captain’s armband. Go, Berni!