Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm could come off a lengthy injury list and start the Bundesliga match with Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.
Midfielders Franck Ribery (ankle), Arjen Robben (stomach) and Javi Martinez (knee), and defender David Alaba (knee) will all miss the game through injury, coach Pep Guardiola confirmed on Friday.
He was not yet sure about defender Holger Badstuber (hip), while midfielder Thiago Alcantara could play “maybe a few minutes” as he recovers from long-standing knee injuries.
Lahm has made only two substitute appearances for Bayern since breaking his ankle in training last November, and Guardiola attempted to take some pressure off his captain by warning that the whole team has to work together to compensate for missing players.
“The players have to know, we need more, more, more. We need 100 percent.” Guardiola said.
Alaba became the latest name on Bayern’s injury list when he tore a left knee ligament while on international duty with Austria; the left-back is likely to miss the rest of the season.
“It’s not good news for anyone,” Guardiola said. “Up to now, we’ve coped, and carried on. And we have to do that now.”
While at pains to state the injuries were not an excuse, he pointed out that they were mounting at an inopportune time with seven games in the next 22 days.
“The squad Bayern have put together is there to fight for all the titles. No excuses. If we don’t win, it’s our fault,” Guardiola said.
“We’re happy to play in April with all the possibilities still open. Now every game is a final. Earlier in the season if you don’t win you carry on. Now if you lose, that’s it. We don’t want any more injuries.”
When asked if this was the most difficult time he had faced in his second season at Bayern, Guardiola replied, “Yes, definitely.”
Dortmund, who have struggled this season and were rock bottom at the beginning of February, are now only five points from the top six despite lengthy injury lay-offs for a number of their players. Coach Jürgen Klopp insists their league position after the game known as Der Klassiker is not his biggest concern.
“We’ve got to try to beat Bayern and where that can take us in the league is secondary,” Klopp said.
“Although we’re 10th, and although there’s a huge points gap between us, and although a lot is different compared to the past, it’s still a Borussia Dortmund home game. I don’t recall us gifting any of these games in the past. Gladbach have shown us how it’s done. Wolfsburg have also beaten (Bayern), but it’s not all that easy.”
Victory would nevertheless be important for Dortmund if they are to close the gap on the top six and qualify for Europe next season, while a second consecutive defeat for Bayern would allow Wolfsburg to reduce the deficit at the top to seven points.
“The quality of the side, the coach, the team, is higher than their table position. The quality is still there,” Guardiola said of tomorrow’s opponents, who they faced in the Champions League final in 2013. “Tomorrow’s game is like a final. It’s not a final, but we’re fighting to defend our title, and Dortmund are fighting for the Champions League or Europa League.”
He added: “My experience with Dortmund and Klopp is of their pressing, their attacking game. It’s good that way. It will be a super, super game.”
