Bayern Munich arrive in Madrid for a huge Matchday 4 clash in the 2026-27 Champions League, but they’re missing a key attacker, a blow for Vincent Kompany.
Luis Diaz sits out the Atletico Madrid tie as he recovers from a left‑hamstring muscle injury. For my money, his loss dents Bayern’s firepower. The Colombian winger picked up the strain during Bayern’s 2‑2 draw with Arsenal on Oct. 21.
He entered in the 68th minute but had to be stretchered off in stoppage time after discomfort; medical scans confirmed a minor tear in his left hamstring.
No official return date yet, but Sky Sport Germany suggests a four‑to‑six‑week layoff. Encouragingly, the 29‑year‑old completed his first solo ball session, yet he remains isolated from the squad, and full‑team training is still required before selection.
Bayern travel to Madrid with a lean squad, and the question looms: can the remaining players rise to the occasion?
Bayern face a fragile roster, having named only 19 players for the Champions League showdown with Atletico Madrid.
Why is UEFA observing a minute of silence before the Matchday 4 fixtures?
Notably, three of the 19 are goalkeepers – Manuel Neuer, Sven Ulreich and Jonas Urbig – leaving just six outfield substitutes on the bench alongside two backup keepers.
The trimmed list reflects a spate of injuries. Besides Diaz, Jamal Musiala, Ismael Saibari and Serge Gnabry miss the trip. Coach Kompany’s rotation options shrink, forcing reliance on youngsters like Lennart Karl, Tim Binder, Tom Bischof and Aleksandar Pavlovic.