According to a new Bild report, it looks like Benjamin Pavard could be fit in time for the semi-finals of Bayern Munich’s Champions League match against Lyon in Lisbon, Portugal on Wednesday. The French defender had suffered an ankle injury in training three weeks ago and it was initially understood that he would be sidelined for four to six weeks, but he has made remarkably rapid progress in his recovery.
When the rest of the team traveled to Portugal last week, Pavard had stayed behind in Munich to continue his rehabilitation and recovery regiment, but Bayern’s progression to the semi-finals of the league has given him a chance to to return to action. He flew to Portugal on Thursday with Herbert Hainer and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge ahead of Barcelona’s emphatic 8-2 trouncing.
He was put through the paces during an individual training session conducted by fitness coach Dr. Holger Broich. The session included shooting, passing, jumping and speed drills all designed to ensure he could carry the weight on his injured foot. He also worked on playing prescriptions to Dr. Brooch with both feet, which he (with no pun intended) passed with flying colors. Everything during the session was designed to replicate match speed and sharpness, so it’s a very good sign that Pavard was able to complete the session without any issues.
With how sharp he looked, he will surely make the butt of the match sheet on Wednesday against Lyon. Whether Hansi Flick will choose to support him directly in the starting lineup is a very different question, but will likely be measured by how things go on Monday and Tuesday during the training sessions. Joshua Kimmich has filled in right back in Bayern’s two games since Pavard’s injury, and that’s probably what would happen again if Pavard is unable to start. Otherwise, his presence right back in the starting lineup would push Kimmich back to midfield and perhaps see Thiago Alcantara relegated to the bench to begin with.
