Manuel Neuer has suffered a serious injury and will miss Bayern's matches until January

Bayern has lost its first‑choice goalkeeper for an extended period. Manuel Neuer has been diagnosed with a partial tear of the right foot tendon, due to which the German goalkeeper is unlikely to return to the field before January.

The 40‑year‑old player sustained the injury in the 9th‑round Bundesliga match against Mainz, which ended with a Munich victory of 2‑1. Neuer felt pain in his right leg and had to seek help from the medical staff. As a result, the goalkeeper could not continue the match, and at the 45th minute he was replaced by Jonas Urbig.

Tendon problems have plagued Neuer all season

The current injury became another episode in a series of health problems for the experienced goalkeeper. Earlier this season Neuer had already missed three matches due to prolonged inflammation of the foot tendon. He did not take part in the games against Freiburg (3‑1), Magdeburg (6‑1) and Borussia Dortmund (2‑2).

Subsequently the German returned to the squad and played in the Champions League match against Atletico, in which Bayern secured a 2‑0 victory. However after that game the goalkeeper admitted that in recent days he had experienced painful sensations even while walking normally.

Now medical examinations have revealed a partial tendon tear that will require a longer recovery. According to preliminary forecasts, a return for Neuer in the coming weeks is not to be expected.

Manuel Neuer's season statistics

In the current season the 40‑year‑old goalkeeper has managed to play nine matches for Bayern across all competitions. During that time he has conceded six goals and kept a clean sheet four times.

The absence of the experienced goalkeeper will be a serious loss for the Munich club, which will now have to do without its first‑choice goalkeeper at least until the end of the calendar year.

What to do for Neuer owners in Champions League Fantasy

Considering that Manuel Neuer is expected to be out at least until January, for the next two gameweeks of the German goalkeeper, if he is in your squad, it is better to replace him with another goalkeeper. Neuer is pricey – €5.4 million, and spending that money to keep a guaranteed backup on the roster does not seem like a good idea.

Bayern will play two more Champions League matches this year – away against Lille on November 25 and at home against Czech side Slavia on December 8. By the match in the new year – January 20 against Manchester United in England – Neuer could theoretically have recovered, but whether to field a barely recovered goalkeeper for such a game is also a big question.

Who to replace Neuer with in Champions League Fantasy?

For the upcoming gameweek there are many replacement options for Bayern's German goalkeeper. Here are three of the most optimal, in our view:

Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid) – price €5.5 million

Atletico at home plays against the Norwegian Viking, and has good chances for a “dry” match. Overall, Oblak can deliver an excellent performance in goal, and his defensive partners often help the Slovenian keep his area well defended.

Josep Martinez (Inter Milan) – price €4.5 million

The home match against Stuttgart is a good opportunity for the Argentine goalkeeper to play a third consecutive Champions League match “with a clean sheet”. The German side away is clearly not as strong in attack as at home, and the match in Turkey against Galatasaray (0‑2 defeat) proved this eloquently.

Joan Garcia (Barcelona) – price €5 million

The Catalans are not often flawless at their own goal, but a match against the modest Champions League debutant from Azerbaijan, even away, is a great chance to play without conceding. And we think that the Blaugrana coaching staff led by Hansi Flick focuses on the reliability of the rear guard.

Here are the options for replacing Neuer for the upcoming round in Fantasy Champions League we offer. But there's no need to rush – in the midst of the national team match break, and replacements with transfers in your Fantasy lineup are better to make after it ends, so as not to run into injury.