Neuer ready for Freiburg Pavlovic on his way back
FC Bayern receive timely injury boost as Kompany prepares for defining run of the season
FC Bayern are entering the most decisive phase of the season, and the latest developments on the training ground have given Vincent Kompany clear reasons for cautious optimism. After a demanding period marked by injuries, international absences and the need to carefully manage key players, the return of several important figures to team work could hardly have come at a better moment. With a crucial Bundesliga trip to Freiburg approaching and the first leg of the Champions League quarter final against Real Madrid now just days away, Bayern are moving into a stretch that could shape the entire direction of their campaign.
The atmosphere around Säbener Straße has naturally changed. Even though the Bundesliga title race still requires total focus and discipline, there is no hiding the fact that the upcoming clash with Real Madrid is already dominating attention in Munich. It is one of those fixtures that instantly changes the mood around a club. The history, the pressure, the global spotlight and the sporting significance all combine to make it one of the biggest tests any Bayern side can face. For Kompany, who is still building his authority and identity at the club, this is also a major personal moment. A strong performance over the next two weeks would strengthen belief in his project and give Bayern momentum at exactly the right time.
Monday afternoon brought one of the most positive training sessions Bayern have had in recent weeks. After a break in regular team work and with many players away on international duty, Kompany gathered together the members of the squad currently available. What mattered most was not simply the number of players present, but the names involved. Manuel Neuer took part again, as did Aleksandar Pavlovic, while Jamal Musiala and Alphonso Davies were also able to complete parts of team training. At this stage of the season, every return matters, but these are not just useful options. These are players who can alter the level, rhythm and personality of the team.
Neuer remains one of the biggest talking points. Bayern have had to manage his fitness carefully after another calf muscle injury, and although the veteran goalkeeper had already returned to team training before the international break, he has still not made it back into match action. Now, the expectation inside the club is clearly focused on a return against SC Freiburg. That would be important for several reasons. First, Bayern need the security, leadership and experience that Neuer brings from the back. Second, getting match minutes into his legs before facing Real Madrid would be extremely valuable. And third, the current situation behind him has become increasingly delicate.
Jonas Urbig, who has been one of the emergency alternatives in goal, was forced to leave the national team camp early due to a knee capsule injury and could only train individually on Monday. Sven Ulreich, meanwhile, is expected to miss the rest of the season because of a muscle injury. That means Bayern are not simply hoping for Neuer to return because of his quality. They need him back because the depth in that position has been seriously reduced. In knockout football, especially against opposition of Real Madrid calibre, uncertainty in goal is the last thing any side wants to carry into a defining tie.
The return of Pavlovic could also have major tactical importance. The young midfielder missed the last Bundesliga match because of hip problems and then withdrew from Germany duty, but his presence in team training now points to a comeback at a crucial moment. While Leon Goretzka has delivered several solid and mature performances in recent weeks, Pavlovic offers a profile that Kompany clearly values in high level matches. His composure in possession, his ability to support the first phase of build up and his understanding alongside Joshua Kimmich give Bayern a more balanced and controlled midfield shape.
Kimmich remains one of the pillars of this Bayern side, particularly in central midfield, where he continues to have full trust from Kompany. Around him, however, the coach still has important decisions to make. Goretzka has brought energy, physicality and threat in transitions, but Pavlovic gives the team a different type of calm. In games where Bayern expect to be pressed aggressively or forced to defend with discipline between the lines, that calm can become extremely valuable. Against Real Madrid, every pass out of pressure and every moment of positional intelligence in midfield could prove decisive. That is why Pavlovic is more than just another returning squad member. He may become one of the keys to the tactical plan.
Musiala and Davies returning to partial training is another encouraging sign. Musiala, after dealing with ankle discomfort, remains one of the few Bayern players capable of changing a game with individual creativity in tight spaces. His movement between the lines, quick changes of direction and unpredictability in the final third can break defensive structures that appear otherwise compact. Davies, meanwhile, offers pace and width that few teams in Europe can match. Whether used as a full back or in a more advanced role depending on the tactical setup, his recovery gives Bayern an extra dimension on the left side at exactly the right time.
Still, the situation is not completely comfortable. Bayern are waiting for the rest of the international players to return over the course of the week, and their workloads have varied significantly. Luis Diaz, for example, started again for Colombia in a friendly defeat against France, meaning he arrives back with minutes in his legs and physical demands already accumulated. Michael Olise, by contrast, was only introduced as a substitute on Sunday, which may leave him in a slightly fresher condition. Harry Kane was even given a rest by Thomas Tuchel before linking up with England in London, an outcome Bayern will have welcomed given how essential he remains to everything they do in attack.
The club will also keep a close eye on Konrad Laimer. Austria are due to face South Korea in Vienna, where Laimer will come up against fellow Bayern defender Min Jae Kim. Laimer recently reported minor knee discomfort and missed the recent win over Ghana, so any fresh setback would be a concern. One of the major challenges for Kompany in the coming days is not merely recovering players, but recovering them in a condition that still allows them to perform immediately. At this stage of the season there is very little time for gradual reintegration. Players return and are expected to deliver at once.
The immediate focus now turns to Freiburg, a fixture that might look like a standard Bundesliga assignment from the outside, but in reality carries substantial weight. Bayern need three points, they need rhythm, and they need a controlled performance that builds confidence rather than creating new doubts. Freiburg are rarely an easy opponent, particularly in a match where Bayern could be mentally split between domestic duty and European anticipation. Kompany will demand concentration, structure and intensity, because any drop in sharpness before facing Real Madrid would be dangerous. The ideal scenario for Bayern is simple: win in Freiburg, welcome more internationals back without setbacks, and head into the European tie with the squad looking stronger than it has for weeks.
That is why this latest training update matters so much. It is not just about names returning to the pitch. It is about timing, balance and belief. Bayern know the margin for error is narrowing. They also know that when the season reaches this point, availability can become just as important as form. With Neuer aiming for a comeback, Pavlovic back in the mix, and other important players edging closer to full fitness, the picture in Munich suddenly looks more stable. There is still caution, and rightly so, but there is also renewed hope that Bayern can approach the biggest games of the season with enough quality and depth to compete at the level required.
The next few days will reveal much more, but for now Kompany has what every coach wants before a defining run of fixtures: more options, fewer immediate fears, and the feeling that the squad is beginning to come together again just when it matters most.
