Reyna ruled out of Dortmund’s game against Bayern Munich
Gio Reyna, the 18-year-old United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) star, has been ruled out of Borussia Dortmund’s game against Bayern Munich due to illness. Reyna, who was expected to be deployed as a supersub by the manager, will be unavailable for what could be a crucial game for Dortmund in their quest for a league title.
Pulisic and McKennie also battling illness
Reyna is not the only USMNT player battling illness this week. Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic is also reported to be battling an illness, while Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie had been battling flu earlier this week after returning from international duty with the USMNT.
Dortmund leads the league by a point & has congested upcoming schedule
Dortmund is currently leading the Bundesliga table by just one point over second-placed RB Leipzig. The upcoming weeks will be crucial for the team from the Ruhr area as they face several important fixtures in both domestic and European competitions. After their encounter with Bayern Munich on Saturday, they face RB Leipzig in the DFB Pokal quarterfinals before playing Eintracht Frankfurt in the league.
Bayern Munich’s senior squad mostly available for selection
On the other hand, Bayern Munich has received a boost after majority of its senior squad passed fitness assessments ahead of their mouthwatering clash against title rivals Borussia Dortmund. The Bavarians will miss youth academy product Mathys Tel due to an adductor strain injury picked up during his time with France U19. Tel is expected to be out of action for 2-3 weeks, ruling him out of the next 3-4 games.
Goretzka and Musiala expected to be fit for the game
Leon Goretzka, who had suffered a minor injury during Germany’s defeat against Belgium, is expected to be fit for the weekend’s clash. Meanwhile, teenage sensation Jamal Musiala had pulled out of Germany’s two friendly games due to a minor injury but is likely to be fit for the game against Dortmund.
Choupo-Moting recovers from back injury
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting has recovered from a back injury and will be fit to start for Bayern Munich in their crucial league match against Borussia Dortmund. The Cameroonian striker has been instrumental since his move to Munich last year, scoring important goals in the league and Champions League.
Reyna out for crucial Dortmund-Bayern match
Reyna had missed the first meeting between Dortmund and Bayern due to a muscle strain. The USMNT star was expected to feature in this game as the manager has deployed him as a supersub in previous games. Reyna’s contribution off the bench could have been crucial for Dortmund, especially if they are trailing.
A victory against Bayern would boost Dortmund’s title chances
Dortmund has not had good luck against Bayern recently, suffering several defeats at the Allianz Arena. However, a victory against Bayern could help Dortmund secure their first league title in over a decade. The team from the Ruhr area has shown its resilience throughout the season but needs to perform at its best on Saturday to keep its title hopes alive.
In conclusion, Borussia Dortmund faces Bayern Munich in what promises to be another mouthwatering encounter between two of Germany’s biggest clubs. Reyna’s absence will be felt by Dortmund but other players must step up if they want to secure a vital win and keep their dream of winning the Bundesliga alive. On the other hand, Bayern Munich will be hoping that their senior squad is able to pass this test and make a statement of intent, in a season that has been dominated by the team from Bavaria.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
