Holders Bayern Munich, who already have top running back Robert Lewandowski due to injury, will also remain without Sergeant Gnabry on the COVID-19 case when they face Paris St. Germain in a repeat of the 2020 Champions League final on Wednesday do. The club said in a statement before the quarter-finals, “Gennabri has tested positive for the coronovirus. FC Bayern is fine ahead and apart at home.”
Earlier, Bayern head coach Hansie Flick had said that Gonabrie had been suffering from a sore throat prior to Kovid’s confirmation.
The 25-year-old man contracted the virus in October last year.
His latest positive test leaves Bayern without a key for both legs against PSG.
Lewandowski, who was voted FIFA’s best male player in 2020, is out with a knee injury after scoring 42 goals for Bayern this season, including five in the Champions League.
PSG defender Alessandro Florenzi and is missing midfielder Marco Verretti, who is claiming for COVID-19.
The pair are among a group of at least six Italian players who have tested positive for the virus since the recent international break.
Flick said midfielder Mark Roca would also miss the first leg at the Allianz Arena after being injured in training on Sunday.
Along with Gabrie, his Germany teammate Leroy Sane is set to play on the flanks with Kingsley Koman, whose header sparked a 1-0 win over PSG in the 2020 Champions League final last August.
Although the French giants may be motivated to avenge the loss in Lisbon, Flick played the element of the rematch with Mauricio Pochettino ever since Thomas Tuchel was replaced as PSG’s head coach.
“Maybe for Paris, but not for us. It’s a new sport, a new team and a new coach in Paris,” said Flick.
Yet Bayern Camp is highly respected for PSG, whose line-up reflects the talents of Brazilian superstar Neymar and French forward Qian Mabappé.
Bayern board member and former club captain Oliver Kahn said, “Everyone knows what strength they have with players like Neymar or Mbappe.
“They are an absolute top rival.”
PSG sent Neymar to Lille’s 1-0 home defeat on Saturday, which included them as leaders of the French League.
The Paris veteran has lost eight times in the French League in 2020/21, the most during a single season for 10 years.
Nevertheless, Pochettino is reclaiming the chance to end Bayern’s unbeaten run of 19 Champions League games, which will return by March 2019.
“We are playing against the best team on the continent at the moment. But we are optimistic. We have already eliminated Barcelona in the context of PSG in terms of beating the Spanish giants in the last 16 years,” he said.
Promoted
On Tuesday, Flick refused to confirm reports that center-back Jerome Boteng would leave Bayern at the end of the season, having not been offered a contract extension.
Both Boteng and left-back Alphonso Davis are available to face PSG on Saturday following a 1-0 win at RB Leipzig that gave Munich seven points at the top of the Bundesliga.
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