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Good news for once from Bayern Munich’s medical department: Leon Goretzka escaped major injury after a frightening collision with Maxime Awoudja in training. Goretzka left the training ground yesterday limping with a bandage on his right ankle, but he will join the team as they travel to Lisbon and be available for their opening Champions League group stage match against Benfica (AZ).
Franck Ribery, who also missed team training yesterday, in his case because of an upset stomach, has also completely recovered and will also be available. Thus all players are fit excepting Kingsley Coman, Corentin Tolisso, and Rafinha, who all are now recovering from long-term injuries.
Bellarabi suspended four games and fined
Karim Bellarabi, who injured Rafinha with a very reckless tackle in Bayern’s game against Bayer Leverkusen, has officially been punished by the DFB’s sports tribunal. The court decided that Bellarabi will serve a four-game suspension and pay an additional fine of €10,000 for the offense that resulted in his sending off (AZ).
Bellarabi needlessly tackled Rafinha from behind late in Bayern’s 3-1 win over Leverkusen, causing a partial ligament tear in Rafinha’s ankle. He apologized on Instagram shortly afterward, denying the intention to injure Rafinha. Bayern president Uli Hoeneß, for his part, had described the incident as “willful bodily harm” and recommended a three-month suspension.