Bayern Munich defender Raphaël Guerreiro is set for a spell on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury, the club confirmed on Sunday. The 32-year-old sustained the issue during Bayern's 4-3 Bundesliga victory away at Mainz 05 on Saturday. Following medical assessment, he has been diagnosed with a minor muscle tear in his left hamstring.
This development rules Guerreiro out of Tuesday's crucial Champions League semi-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain. The club did not provide a definitive timeline for his return, stating only that he will be unavailable for the coming fixtures. His absence represents a significant setback for manager Thomas Tuchel, who has frequently relied on the Portuguese international's versatility across the defence and midfield this season.
Guerreiro joined Bayern on a free transfer last summer after a successful seven-year spell with Borussia Dortmund, where he established himself as one of the Bundesliga's most creative full-backs. At Bayern, his technical quality and adaptability have been valuable assets, often slotting into a left-back role or operating in midfield to help dictate play. His injury comes at a critical juncture, with Bayern locked in a tight title race with Bayer Leverkusen and facing their most important European tie of the campaign.
According to club sources, the medical team will monitor his recovery closely, but he is expected to miss several key matches. In his absence, options for the left side include Alphonso Davies, who may be tasked with containing the threat of PSG's Ousmane Dembélé, or Noussair Mazraoui. The injury also highlights Bayern's recent struggles with fitness, with several other players including Kingsley Coman and Sacha Boey also currently unavailable.
For Guerreiro personally, the timing is unfortunate as he had been enjoying a consistent run in the team, contributing three goals and two assists in 28 appearances across all competitions this term. His ability to provide a creative outlet from deep has been a key component of Bayern's build-up play under Tuchel. The coming weeks will test Bayern's squad depth as they attempt to challenge on two fronts without one of their most tactically intelligent players.
