Bayern Munich have been hit particularly hard, as far as injuries to key players in the March international break are concerned. Both Alphonso Davies and Dayot Upamecano suffered major injuries while on duty with their national teams earlier this week. Davies tore the ACL in his right knee, while Upamecano was diagnosed with loose bodies in his left knee. The Canadian international is certainly out for the remainder of the season and, for that matter, the opening few months of next term, while the French centre-back will probably miss the rest of the matches in the Bundesliga and Champions League of 2024/25 too. In this piece, we will explore the likely Bayern response to their Davies and Upamecano injuries.
How Bayern Munich Will Attempt to Compensate for Davies and Upamecano Injuries
The Situation at Left Back
Davies, with his incredible speed and agility, will be especially difficult for the team to replace. Raphael Guerreiro has been the number one choice for coach Vincent Kompany whenever the Canadian international has been injured or rested earlier this season. Guerreiro interprets the position in a similarly attacking way that Davies does.
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The versatile Portuguese player has been used in a number of different positions this season, having played 17 matches in the Bundesliga alone, and he contributed three goals and two assists.
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Another option would be Hiroki Ito, whose best position is also likely at left back. He, however, is only just beginning his Bayern Munich journey, after recovering from a gruesome injury himself. The Japanese international missed out on the first half of the season and has yet to prove himself.
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Though after he got hurt in the preseason in such a tragic way, it is far too early to judge his time at the club after his summer transfer from VfB Stuttgart.
The Options at Centre Back
After being something of a problem case early on at Bayern, Upamecano has blossomed into an imposing presence in the heart of the Bavarians’ defence under Kompany. He has become the undisputed leader in the back four, and will be as sorely missed as Davies at left back.
Eric Dier is the best option to replace “Upa”, as the French defender is affectionately known. Last season under Thomas Tuchel, Dier had become the first-choice centre back in the team that reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, after arriving as an emergency transfer in January 2024.
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Even though Kompany always preferred Upamecano and Kim Min-jae to the former Spurs man, Dier behaved admirably by putting the team first and playing well whenever needed.
Another option would be the defensive all-rounder Josip Stanisic, but much like Ito, he missed half of the season with injury himself. Stanisic returned from a one-year loan at Bayer Leverkusen a changed player, though it will be interesting to see how he will be utilised in this new situation.
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But in any case, the Davies, Upamecano injuries will damage the team very much in its quest for Bundesliga and Champions League glory this season.
