Gnabry back in training for Real match as Kimmich rallies fans
Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich (L) and Bayern Munich's Serge Gnabry in action duirng a training session at the training facility on Saebener Strasse ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Champions League Quarter-final Second Leg soocer match against Real Madrid. Sven Hoppe/dpa Serge Gnabry appears to have overcome knee problems and should be ready to start for Bayern Munich in Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final return leg against Real Madrid. Forward Gnabry missed Saturday's 5-0 Bundesliga victory at St Pauli but trained with the team on Tuesday.
His return means that coach Vincent Kompany could field the same starting 11 as last week in Madrid where Bayern won 2-1. Apart from missing Gnabry, Kompany also rested several stars on Saturday, led by striker Harry Kane, who together with Luis Diaz scored in Madrid. Bayern will need to be at their best as they aim to end a run of four defeats in a row against Real in knock-out ties in the elite event.
In those ties they lost three of their home games and drew the other. The last Bayern home victory against Real was in the 2012 semi-finals which Bayern went on to win on penalties in Madrid. Midfielder Joshua Kimmich meanwhile urged full fan support in a video clip.
“Hello, dear fans, we’re now slowly entering the stage of the season where it really counts. We players, you fans – we’re all dreaming of these matches. We need you; we’ll give it our all; we’ll push ourselves to the limit,” he said.
"Come in red and then we’ll go all out together. " Bayern Munich's Serge Gnabry attends a training session at the training facility on Saebener Strasse ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Champions League Quarter-final Second Leg soocer match against Real Madrid. Sven Hoppe/dpa