Bayern Rule Neuer Out Against Stavanger With Foot Complaint

Bayern Munich will face Viking Stavanger without captain and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in their UEFA Champions League league-phase match on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, after the 40-year-old reported discomfort in his foot. Coach Vincent Kompany selected 23-year-old Jonas Urbig to start, citing medical concerns and the need to avoid unnecessary risks.

Kompany confirmed the decision at Monday's pre-match press conference, explaining that Neuer had been unable to train. According to Sportschau, the goalkeeper first noticed the problem after Bayern's 2-2 Bundesliga draw with Augsburg on Saturday.

"Manuel is not training today; he felt something in his foot. So the question of who will be in goal tomorrow is answered very quickly," said Kompany, Bayern's head coach.

The coach also described the decision as "purely medical," according to the Austrian broadcaster ORF.

In comments reported separately by Sportschau, Kompany said, "Manu felt something in his foot." He added that the change was "purely medical" and that "the question is answered very quickly."

Kompany indicated that the problem might not be serious but said protecting the goalkeeper was the priority. "I don't think it's that bad," he said. "But there is no point in taking that risk."

Neuer's absence follows a difficult performance against Augsburg, where a mistake while coming off his line contributed to the fastest conceded goal in German league history. Robin Fellhauer scored after just 8.4 seconds, according to ORF. Neuer also struggled with Augsburg's second goal, prompting debate about his form and age.

Bayern sporting director Max Eberl defended the veteran goalkeeper and rejected suggestions that the error had undermined his position.

"There is absolutely no doubt about Manu," Eberl said.

Eberl also reaffirmed Neuer's status as the team's first-choice goalkeeper while leaving future decisions open.

"Manu is our No. 1, and he will remain so. What happens in the future remains to be seen," Eberl said.

Former Bayern goalkeeper Sepp Maier also defended Neuer in comments to the Munich-based newspaper Münchner Merkur, dismissing criticism based on age.

"All this fuss just because he has reached a certain age? That's nonsense! There are good goalkeepers and bad goalkeepers, but there are no old goalkeepers. Manuel is still a very good one," Maier said.

Urbig is set for his third competitive appearance for Bayern this season. The young goalkeeper previously played in a 4-1 German Cup win over VfL Osnabrück and a 2-1 Bundesliga victory over SV Elversberg, conceding once in each match. Sportschau also reported that he had recently kept two clean sheets in appearances for the German national team.

The goalkeeper change is not Bayern's only concern ahead of the Norwegian fixture. The match will be played on artificial turf, an unusual surface for the German club. ORF reported that Bayern had played only one previous competitive match on artificial turf, a 2-2 draw against Spartak Moscow in November 2006.

Kompany adjusted the team's preparations by arranging an earlier arrival in Stavanger and moving the final training session to the Viking Stadium. He acknowledged that the surface presented an unfamiliar challenge.

"I have never played on artificial turf in 20 years of my career," Kompany said.

The coach nevertheless stressed that Bayern must adapt to different conditions, regardless of weather or playing surface.

"Whether it's wind, rain or sunshine, whether it's 45 degrees in Carolina in the United States or minus five degrees in Stavanger on artificial turf, it is all the same to me. I want us to be Bayern everywhere," Kompany said.

Bayern midfielder Joshua Kimmich also expressed confidence in the playing surface.

"I expect that you can play very good soccer on artificial turf, too," Kimmich said.

Bayern entered the match after opening their Champions League campaign with a 5-0 victory over FK Bodø/Glimt. Eberl emphasized the importance of another win against a Stavanger side that has been difficult to beat at home. Viking had lost only one competitive home match since August 2025, according to ORF, despite opening their European campaign with a 3-1 defeat at VfB Stuttgart on September 9.

Meanwhile, RB Leipzig were preparing to host PSV Eindhoven after a 6-0 Bundesliga win over Eintracht Frankfurt. Leipzig coach Martin Demichelis wanted his team to carry that momentum into Europe following a 4-1 defeat at Como in their opening league-phase match.

"We have taken a step forward, but we must not get carried away," Demichelis said.

Leipzig remained without Christoph Baumgartner, who sustained a serious thigh injury on June 1 while warming up before Austria's international match against Tunisia. He had resumed partial team training the previous week. Austrian international Paul Wanner was also unavailable for PSV because of a foot injury.

Max Eberl summarized Bayern's immediate objective ahead of the Stavanger fixture.

"We have to win this game, and we want to win it to make a strong start in the Champions League," Eberl said.