Manuel Neuer returned to the starting lineup for FC Bayern Munich in their Champions League clash against Atlético Madrid, surpassing Thomas Müller and Lionel Messi to claim sole possession of third place on the all-time appearance list for the competition with his 164th match, Sport1 reported.
Neuer Returns While Bischof Starts over Pavlović
- Goalkeeping Stability: Neuer’s return from a foot injury sidelines Jonas Urbig, restoring his position in goal for the team.
- Midfield Rotational Risk: Tom Bischof receiving the nod over Aleksandar Pavlović on the double-pivot alongside Joshua Kimmich signals the lineup choice for the fixture.
- Offensive Continuity: Michael Olise proving his knee fitness following the weekend draw against Borussia Dortmund secures his spot in the attacking band alongside Lennart Karl and Alphonso Davies.
Captain Sets German Appearance Record After Injury
The 40-year-old club captain slotted straight back into the side after missing five matches due to a foot injury, with Jonas Urbig having filled in during his absence. This fixture marked Neuer’s 164th appearance in Europe’s premier club tournament. By reaching this milestone, he moves ahead of former teammate Thomas Müller to become the outright German record-holder in the competition.
Beyond domestic standings, the milestone also pushes the veteran goalkeeper past Argentina’s Lionel Messi in the all-time continental rankings. Up ahead of Neuer in the historical charts are former Real Madrid and Porto goalkeeper Iker Casillas with 177 appearances, and Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, who tops the list with 183 matches played across his time with Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus Turin. Another former Bayern teammate, Toni Kroos, sits further down the list with 151 matches, largely accumulated with Real Madrid.
Tactical Shape and Squad Adjustments Under Danks
Assistant coach Aaron Danks faced a severely depleted attacking core for the trip to Madrid, operating without Luis Díaz, Jamal Musiala, Ismael Saibari, and Serge Gnabry. In response, the tactical setup deployed Harry Kane as the central reference point, supported by Michael Olise, Lennart Karl, and Alphonso Davies across the second line of the attack. Olise cleared a late fitness test after picking up knee trouble during the closing stages of the weekend’s 2:2 Bundesliga draw with Borussia Dortmund.
Ahead of Neuer, a conventional four-man defensive block was assembled featuring Konrad Laimer on the right, Dayot Upamecano and Jonathan Tah anchoring the central defense, and Josip Stanisic on the left. In the midfield engine room, Tom Bischof partnered Joshua Kimmich in the double-pivot.
A giant of European football 👏 Manuel Neuer moves third on the list of all-time #UCL appearance makers 🧤 pic.twitter.com/wt0QUQPMKC
| Metric / Player | Manuel Neuer | Thomas Müller | Lionel Messi |
|---|---|---|---|
| CL Appearances | 164 | — | — |
| Primary Club | Bayern Munich | Bayern Munich | FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain |
| Status | Active | Former Teammate | — |
Bayern’s defensive setup featured Neuer in goal against Atlético Madrid, while the midfield partnership of Kimmich and Bischof was deployed on the double-sechs.
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