Bayern Munich's star left-back Alphonso Davies has been sidelined indefinitely after sustaining a muscle strain in his left hamstring, the German club announced on Thursday. The injury comes as a significant setback for both the club and the Canadian international.
The 24-year-old defender's injury occurred during Wednesday's Champions League match against Feyenoord, forcing him to exit the game in first-half stoppage time. Davies received on-field treatment before being replaced by Raphael Guerreiro, who subsequently conceded a penalty that led to Santiago Gimenez's second goal for Feyenoord.
This isn't Davies' first injury setback this season, as he previously missed two matches in December due to what Bayern described as a 'torn muscle fibre.' Despite these challenges, the Canadian has been a cornerstone of Vincent Kompany's squad, making 25 appearances this season with one goal and three assists to his name.
The timing of Davies' injury is particularly unfortunate as Bayern Munich finds themselves in a mixed run of form. The team currently sits 15th in the Champions League league-phase standings, though they have secured a spot in next month's playoffs. Their domestic campaign presents a brighter picture, with the team maintaining a four-point lead over Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.
In a statement, Bayern Munich said, "The 24-year-old will be absent from the German record champions for the time being," without specifying a timeline for his return. Meanwhile, amid this setback, there is some positive news as Davies and Bayern are reportedly close to finalizing terms on a new contract, with his current deal set to expire at the end of June.
The impact of Davies' absence was immediately felt in Wednesday's match, which ended in a 3-0 defeat to Feyenoord, marking Bayern's third loss in seven Champions League league phase matches. The Dutch side sealed their victory with Ayase Ueda adding a third goal in the 89th minute.
