Manuel Neuer continues to work toward his comeback. At FC Bayern, there is hope for a quick return, but his availability for the Magdeburg match remains uncertain.

At FC Bayern, the goalkeeper situation remains unclear ahead of the DFB Cup match against 1. FC Magdeburg. Although Manuel Neuer is expected to return to training this week, it’s still unclear whether the captain will be able to take his place between the posts as early as Wednesday.

Sporting Director Max Eberl has now provided an update on the 40-year-old’s condition. Neuer will “return to training later this week,” the Bayern boss explained. At the same time, the Munich club apparently does not want to take any unnecessary risks with its starting goalkeeper. A final decision on whether he will play against Magdeburg will therefore not be made until the last minute.

Neuer has been struggling with foot problems for several weeks. Initially, fluid buildup caused him to miss the competitive matches against Viking Stavanger and RB Leipzig. The veteran then returned for the Champions League match against Arsenal and played the entire game.

However, the hoped-for permanent return did not materialize. After the Arsenal game, the symptoms worsened again, forcing Neuer to sit out Sunday’s 3-1 victory over SC Freiburg. Immediately after the Freiburg game, assistant coach Aaron Danks explained that the foot problems had flared up once more.

Urbig is ready to step in for Neuer

For Bayern, however, there is no reason to rush Neuer back. With Jonas Urbig, a reliable backup remains available. The 23-year-old recently delivered a strong performance in Freiburg and, with several key saves, played a pivotal role in helping Munich defend their lead in the closing stages.

Urbig had already filled in for Neuer on several occasions in the weeks prior. The youngster could start again against Magdeburg as well if the captain isn’t fully fit by match day.

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The key factor now will be how Neuer responds to the upcoming training sessions. The fact that he is expected to return to the training field later this week is, in principle, a positive sign. However, that alone isn’t enough for him to play in the cup match.

FC Bayern is likely keeping an eye on the rest of the schedule as well. The top Bundesliga match against Borussia Dortmund is already coming up this Saturday. Given the recurring issues with his foot, the club’s management apparently wants to prevent Neuer from returning too soon and then having to sit out again.

Patience is therefore required for the match against Magdeburg. It likely won’t be clear until shortly before kickoff whether Neuer will be able to make his comeback—or whether Urbig will once again guard the Bayern goal.

This article was translated into English by AI. You can read the original version here https://fcbinside.de/2026/10/26/wann-kehrt-neuer-zurueck-bayern-lassen-entscheidung-offen/.