Bayern Neuer forced off injured in Mainz win

FC Bayern Munich defeated Mainz 05 2-1 to maintain its hold on top of the Bundesliga standings, but the win was overshadowed by an injury to veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who was forced off the pitch in the first half, WELT reported. Neuer’s exit cast a shadow over a hard-fought victory that saw Joshua Kimmich and Lennart Kart score for the visitors before Mainz’s Phillip Tietz netted a late consolation goal.

Neuer Forced Off in First Half

The 40-year-old attempted to save a cross, but a deflection by Mainz defender Jonathan Tah sent the ball past him and toward the goal. Mainz’s Jae-Sung Lee met it with a header, but the goal was correctly ruled out for offside by the video assistant referee.

Despite the successful clearance, Neuer remained down on the turf, signaling he could not continue. He received treatment on his right foot before being replaced by backup goalkeeper Jonas Urbig. His forced substitution forced Bayern to play the remainder of the match with a new goalkeeper between the posts.

History and Recent Struggles for Neuer

At 40 years and 225 days old, he became the oldest player ever to start a Bundesliga match for Bayern Munich, surpassing the previous record held by former goalkeeper Bernd Dreher, who was 40 years and 198 days old when he played.

However, the milestone came while people continued to worry about Neuer's fitness. The goalkeeper has been managing a recurring tendon irritation in his foot for several weeks. After Bayern’s Champions League victory over Atlético Madrid earlier in the week, Neuer admitted to persistent pain.

“I have pain every day when I walk,” Neuer said in an interview with Amazon Prime, as reported by WELT. “And when I got up this morning, I had pain again when walking.”

Bayern Leadership Expresses Caution

Following the match, Bayern’s sporting director, Max Eberl, provided an update on Neuer’s condition. He confirmed that the injury appears to be related to the pre-existing foot problem but remained hopeful it was not serious.

“It is the same issue as before with his foot. It has flared up again. We hope it is not so bad,” Eberl told reporters, according to WELT.

Interim head coach Aaron Danks offered a similar assessment, noting the lack of a definitive diagnosis. “He felt something in his foot again,” Danks said in an interview with Sky Sports Deutschland. “We don’t know anything at the moment. It was obviously not good.”

Team captain Joshua Kimmich, who scored Bayern’s first goal, voiced his concern for his long-time teammate.

“It didn’t look like he could train again in a week,” Kimmich said. “Manu never admits to pain anyway—and when he does have to come off, it’s unfortunately probably something serious.”

Bayern Holds on for Win

While the health of their star goalkeeper dominated the post-match narrative, Bayern was able to secure the three points. Kimmich put the visitors ahead in the 16th minute, and Kart doubled the lead in the 73rd minute. Mainz pulled a goal back through Tietz in the first minute of stoppage time, but Bayern held on for the victory.

The win keeps Bayern at the summit of the Bundesliga table.

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