Bayern preparing to field 16-year-old goalkeeper against Atalanta in injury crisis
Bayern Munich are preparing to hand a debut to 16-year-old goalkeeper Leonard Prescott for the return leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie against Atalanta on Wednesday evening, as every other stopper in Vincent Kompany’s ranks are either injured or at high risk of missing out.
Bayern injury crisis leads to opportunity for 16-year-old goalkeeper
The Bundesliga giants have a whopping 6-1 advantage over Atalanta heading into their round of 16 leg after dishing out a thrashing in Bergamo last Tuesday.
La Dea are the only Italian side left standing in the competition after the elimination of Inter and Juventus in the play-off round and Napoli’s exit at the end of the league phase.
Atalanta are facing a near-impossible task when they take on Bayern away at the Allianz Arena requiring a six-goal victory to qualify for the quarter-finals. But, the hosts are in the midst of a goalkeeping injury crisis that could lead to a 16-year-old being handed their senior debut between the posts on Wednesday night.
That is because captain Manuel Neuer, who missed out on the first leg against Atalanta, is still unavailable through injury. Back-up option Sven Ulreich is also nursing an adductor tear.
Jonas Urbig, who started against Atalanta last week, is a major doubt due to concussion, and reports in Germany suggest that Bayern are unlikely to take any risks with the 22-year-old, especially with a 6-1 advantage heading into the second leg.
Bayern’s reserve team, Bayern II, are also without 19-year-old goalkeeper Leon Klanac due to a thigh injury, which means that 16-year-old Prescott, currently based with the U19 squad, is the most likely goalkeeper to play against Atalanta on Wednesday according to reports from various outlets.
Prescott was born in New York but has represented Germany at U16 and U17 level.
The teenager has made 16 appearances for Bayern’s U19 squad so far this season, conceding 30 goals, and has twice been included in the senior matchday squad: Against Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga over the weekend just gone and against Atalanta in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 last Tuesday,