Kane and Gnabry in Bayern training ahead of Real Madrid clash
Harry Kane and Serge Gnabry have both returned to team training with FC Bayern Munich, boosting the club's options ahead of their crucial Champions League quarter-final second leg against Real Madrid on Wednesday. The pair missed Bayern's 5-0 friendly win over St. Pauli at the weekend but took part in Monday's session, according to the club's training report.
Head coach Vincent Kompany had previously stated that Kane, who played the full 90 minutes of the first leg after recovering from an ankle injury, was merely managing the after-effects of that return and that nothing should prevent the England captain from starting at the Santiago Bernabéu. The striker's availability is a significant relief for Bayern, who rely heavily on his 39 goals across all competitions this season.
The situation surrounding Gnabry is slightly less certain. The German winger missed the St. Pauli match with minor knee problems, and a final decision on his fitness is expected following Tuesday's final training session. Should Gnabry be deemed unfit, Bayern would need to find an alternative for the central attacking midfield role, with 18-year-old Lennart Karl already ruled out through injury.
In that scenario, Jamal Musiala would be the most likely candidate to step in. The 23-year-old is still regaining full sharpness after a serious ankle injury suffered last summer but made a positive impact against St. Pauli, contributing a goal and an assist. However, the club is known to be handling his comeback with caution, and starting him twice in quick succession may be considered a risk.
Other tactical options for Kompany include deploying Kane in a deeper, creative role to allow Nicolas Jackson, who also scored against St. Pauli, to operate as the central striker. Raphaël Guerreiro and Tom Bischof also offer versatility and could provide cover in advanced midfield positions. For now, the prevailing expectation within the club is that Gnabry will be passed fit to start, which would allow Musiala to remain an impactful option from the bench.
The returns come at a critical juncture, with Bayern needing to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the first leg in Munich. Having key attacking players available increases Kompany's flexibility and firepower as his team attempts to reach the semi-finals. The fitness of Kane and Gnabry will be monitored closely in the final hours before the team departs for Madrid, with their presence offering a psychological boost ahead of one of the season's most demanding fixtures.
