Kompany uncertain on Kane fitness for Bayern's crucial Champions League tie at Real Madrid
Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany has declined to confirm whether striker Harry Kane will start against Real Madrid in Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg. The England captain, who has missed training for the past week with an ankle injury, travelled with the squad to Madrid but his readiness for a full 90 minutes remains in doubt. Kompany told Diario AS that Kane had undergone a specialised recovery phase and was present with the team, but a final decision on his involvement from the outset would be made closer to kick-off at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The potential absence or limited capacity of Kane represents a significant blow for the German champions, who are considered favourites for the tie. The 32-year-old has been in prolific form this season, with teammate Joshua Kimmich telling the press that Kane has scored between 40 and 50 goals across all competitions. Kimmich emphasised that Kane's value extends beyond goals, describing him as a crucial leader and selfless team player whose presence is vital for Bayern's collective success.
This fixture carries the weight of recent history for Bayern, who were eliminated by Real Madrid at the semi-final stage two seasons ago. Kompany, whose own first Champions League campaign as a manager ended in the quarter-finals last year with a different club, stressed that his team's focus must be on their own performance rather than their illustrious opponents. He outlined a mentality of resilience, stating the need to react to past defeats by continuing to think about winning and leveraging the strong squad currently at his disposal.
Meanwhile, the build-up in Madrid has been dominated by discussions around the attacking partnership of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior. Kompany sidestepped questions on the matter, simply acknowledging both as incredible players and stating that their integration was a matter for Real Madrid. Kimmich, however, was more forthcoming, acknowledging Mbappe's world-class talent and his capacity to improve any team, particularly in a season where Real Madrid have experienced fluctuating form.
Real Madrid approach the match following a 2-1 La Liga defeat to Mallorca, a result that tempered the optimism generated by their recent victories over Manchester City and Atletico Madrid. The fitness of Harry Kane will be a decisive factor in a tie that Kimmich described as a clash between the two biggest clubs in the world, with the first leg set to shape the narrative for the return meeting in Munich.
