Neuer out till new year with broken rib

Neuer, 38, missed Bayern’s Bundesliga win over Heidenheim with a “ribs issue”, as described by the club at the time. 

After the captain didn’t travel for the team’s UEFA Champions League game against Shakhtar Donetsk, which is being played in Neuer’s hometown of Gelsenkirchen, head coach Vincent Kompany announced that his goalkeeper has suffered a broken rib and won’t be back until January at the earliest.

Watch: Manuel Neuer - The original sweeper keeper

The Belgian also confirmed that Neuer sustained the injury in the DFB Cup last-16 tie with Bayer Leverkusen in his challenge with Jeremie Frimpong that saw the goalkeeper shown a red card for the first time in 867 senior appearances for club and country.

Daniel Peretz replaced Neuer in the cup game and started against Heidenheim. As well as the Shakhtar game, the 11-time Bundesliga champion and 2014 FIFA World Cup winner will also miss Saturday’s league encounter in Mainz and the final match of the year at home to RB Leipzig the following Friday.

Bayern kick off 2025 with their 2,025th Bundesliga fixture away at Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday, 11 January and hope to have their captain back in time.