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In what can only be considered a last minute surprise, Abendzeitung journalist Patrick Strasser is reporting that Robert Lewandowski did not make the trip for Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga showdown with FC Köln.
Lewandowski, who almost never willingly takes a day off, will apparently get some much needed rest while his squad does battle with the Billy Goats. Per Strasser:
@FCBayern am Samstag in Köln ohne #Lewandowski. Er blieb zur Schonung in München. Für ihn wird Choupo-Moting stürmen.
— Patrick Strasser (@AZ_Strasser) October 30, 2020
Erstaunlich: #Flick schafft es sogar, #Lewandowski von einer Pause zu überzeugen. #KOEFCB
FC Bayern is without #Lewandowski on Saturday in Cologne. He stayed in Munich for rest. Choupo-Moting will be at striker for him. Amazing: #Flick even manages to convince #Lewandowski to take a break. #KOEFCB
As noted, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting will likely fill-in for Lewandowski. Of course, we already that know that Joshua Kimmich’s status for the fixture is also in question, so we should see a heavily rotated unit of Bavarians on the pitch tomorrow.
Who else might sit? That remains to be seen, but more than ever...this season is a marathon and not a sprint. Any rest that key players like Lewandowski and Kimmich can get now will only help their fitness later down the road.
Update
[7:35PM EST] Sport1 is also reporting that Lewandowski was left home. This will save you all from the Halloween-fueled “Robert Boo-wendowski” references tomorrow.