Bayern’s Palhinha sidelined for weeks with adductor injury

Bayern Munich confirmed Joao Palhinha will be sidelined for several weeks after suffering an adductor injury while on international duty.

The midfielder sustained the issue while training with Portugal, and withdrew from the squad, missing both of their Nations League fixtures against Poland and Croatia.

Palhinha, who joined Bayern on a four-year contract in July from Fulham, has made 13 appearances in all competitions and boasts a 100% tackle completion rate in the Bundesliga (7/7).

“FC Bayern’s medical department has confirmed that Joao Palhinha suffered a torn muscle fibre in his right adductor while training with the Portugal national team,” the club said. “The midfielder will therefore be sidelined for the coming weeks.”

Bayern have been boosted by Aleksandar Pavlovic’s return to first-team training over the international break, though he has still not returned to full fitness.

The Bavarians, top of the Bundesliga with a five-point advantage over RB Leipzig, have a busy schedule ahead of them with four matches in 11 days.

Bayern take on Augsburg in the league on Friday before hosting Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League next Tuesday. They then travel to Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga and face holders Bayer Leverkusen in the DFB-Pokal on December 3.

Guest 1: Dr. Markus Lemke,⁣ Sports Medicine Specialist

Interviewer: First ⁢of all, how serious is this adductor injury that Joao Palhinha sustained while on international duty? And what are the typical recovery timelines for such an injury?

Guest 1: This type of injury,⁣ a torn muscle fibre in the adductor, can vary in severity ‍depending on the extent of ‍the damage. Generally, it can take anywhere⁤ from several‌ weeks to a few months for players to fully recover. However, with appropriate medical care‌ and rehabilitation, we can hope for a faster recovery time. Bayern Munich’s medical staff will have a better⁣ idea of the timeline once⁤ they complete ⁢their assessment and ​start the rehabilitation​ process.

Interviewer: That’s interesting to know. How can Bayern Munich manage without Palhinha during this period? Can they rely on their other midfielders to⁤ step up or will they⁤ need to bring in a replacement?

Guest 1: Bayern Munich have already demonstrated ​their depth ⁣in midfield this season, ‍with players like Leon Goretzka, Joshua Kimmich, and‍ Jamal Musiala filling in well for ⁢Corentin Tolisso, who is also out with an injury. They may choose to bring in a replacement player on loan or ‌through a short-term transfer to cover for Palhinha’s absence, but it’s likely that they‌ will rely on their current squad members to ⁣step up. The good news is that they have experienced backup options who have ⁢already been getting playing time this season.

Guest 2: Manfred Turowski,‍ Bayern Munich Manager

Interviewer: As the manager, how are you preparing⁣ for the upcoming games without Palhinha? Have ⁣you identified any specific areas that ‌may be affected due to his absence?

Guest 2: We have a strong squad and we are confident that we can cope without Palhinha for the time being. We have players who can fill in for him,‍ like Marcel Sabitzer and Ryan Gravenberch. However, we know that his presence in the ‍midfield was certainly missed in the last‍ few games, ⁤especially against teams like Borussia Dortmund. ‌We are working on ways to adapt our tactics and formations to compensate for⁣ his absence, and focusing on ‍maintaining our performance levels throughout​ the