Why Bayern May Have To Play 16-year-old In Goal

Bayern Munich whitethorn manus 16-year-old goalkeeper Leonard Prescott his first-team debut successful nan Champions League connected Wednesday.

The German giants person 3 goalkeepers struggling pinch wounded and if Jonas Urbig fails to retrieve from concussion past Prescott will play successful nan 2nd limb of their past 16 necktie against Atalanta, caput coach Vincent Kompany said.

Urbig sustained his wounded successful Bayern's 6-1 triumph successful Italy past week, while regular starter Manuel Neuer is moving towards afloat fittingness aft a musculus tear and third-choice keeper Sven Ulreich picked up an adductor rumor successful Saturday's 1-1 tie astatine Bayer Leverkusen.

"Jonas trained usually coming [Tuesday]. The determination tomorrow will beryllium a aesculapian one," Kompany said.

"If everything goes good past Urbig will beryllium successful goal. If not past we will person to find different solution."

Prescott, a German younker world who plays for Bayern's under-19s, will require clearance from German labour authorities to activity successful nan evening arsenic he is simply a teenager.

He has been connected Bayern's chair successful their past 2 matches pinch chap teenage keeper Leon Klanac, 19, besides retired pinch a thigh injury.

Reserve squad keeper Janis Bartl, 19, has featured connected nan Bayern chair successful 2 Bundesliga matches this season, but it is Prescott who Kompany will move to if necessary.

"He [Prescott] is very calm. Overall, we arsenic a unit are besides calm. If he plays tomorrow he will person our afloat backing. Everyone will help," Kompany added.

"There will ne'er beryllium a young subordinate who will beryllium forced to play a main role. We person afloat assurance successful him immoderate happens tomorrow."

Neuer, a World Cup victor and 12-time Bundesliga champion pinch Bayern, has played 19 times successful nan convention this season, pinch nan 37-year-old's past quality coming connected 6 March.

Urbig, 22, has played 8 convention matches, including six starts, while Ulreich, 37, made his first quality of nan play connected Saturday.

Bayern, nan defending Bundesliga champions and existent convention leaders, will look either Real Madrid aliases Manchester City successful nan past 8 should they hit Atalanta.