Bayern Munich's fixture list offers no respite. Several players picked up injuries in a 2-2 draw against Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga's top match. Atletico Madrid, one of Europe's toughest teams, await on Tuesday. After draws against Viking Stavanger and Arsenal, Bayern urgently need a win in the battle for direct qualification for the Champions League last 16.
In attack, four of Bayern's seven established players are definitely out and another is doubtful. Luis Diaz (muscle bundle tear) is unlikely to return until the end of November, while Jamal Musiala (torn muscle fibre) is expected back against FSV Mainz 05 next Saturday. Ismael Saibari and Serge Gnabry both came off in the first half against BVB. Bayern Munich announced their diagnoses on Sunday.
Saibari tore the syndesmosis ligament in his right ankle and has already undergone surgery. He is likely to be out for three months. Gnabry suffered a muscle injury in the back of his left thigh and is expected to be sidelined for one to two months. Michael Olise also came off against BVB while carrying a knock (knee problems). Bayern Munich gave no update on him, although he returned to training on Monday wearing a knee brace, suggesting he could feature against Atletico.
Besides the Frenchman, Bayern have only centre-forward Harry Kane, who had an unhappy outing overall against BVB and even missed a penalty, and Lennart Karl. Karl, currently the subject of heated debate, missed a chance to win the match against BVB in stoppage time and is struggling for form.
Bayern Munich: what options does Aaron Danks have left in attack?
With two attacking positions vacant in Bayern's 4-2-3-1, interim head coach Aaron Danks is likely to use nominal defenders in those roles. Alphonso Davies could start on the left wing, with Nathaniel Brown or Tom Bischof in the number 10 role.
Bayern Munich's versatile players give them options while numbers are stretched. Max Eberl and the sporting leadership can feel vindicated in their transfer policy, as can the coaching staff, who regularly test players in different positions. Davies, Brown and Bischof would all know the proposed roles. Konrad Laimer is another prime example: with Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlovic recently absent, he played in central midfield, excelled at right-back against BVB and can also play on the left.
Against Atletico, Bayern should still be able to field a reasonably strong starting XI. Danks would have little room to respond to injuries or changes in the match, though. Depending on who starts, his established bench options would be Bischof or Brown, defenders Hiroki Ito, Sacha Boey and Jonathan Tah or Min-Jae Kim. David Santos Daiber and Tim Binder have also been regularly included in the squad of late.
Danks could also turn to one of pre-season's smaller success stories, Bastian Assomo. The centre-forward, only 16, caught the eye with performances that were surprisingly mature and equally refreshing, and even scored twice. On Saturday, Assomo scored a brace as Bayern's reserves drew a wild 5-5 with TSV Landsberg. He has yet to receive his first call-up to the senior squad this season, but would at least offer an intriguing option from the bench.
IMAGODo Bayern Munich need to strengthen in the winter transfer market?
Goalkeeper Jonas Urbig also left the BVB match carrying a knock. After his collision with Carney Chukwuemeka, Urbig did "not exactly look as though he was going to a wedding", according to Eberl. First-choice goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, meanwhile, is at least hoping to return against Atletico. "I hope so," he said as he left the arena.
After the Dortmund match, Bayern's spate of absences prompted debate over their small squad and whether they should add players in the winter transfer window. For chief executive Jan-Christian Dreesen, the question comes "too early". Eberl added: "It's not as though five players are now out for half a year." He immediately tapped his forehead with his fist, unwilling to tempt fate. Bayern deliberately chose a small squad to give homegrown talents a chance to make a major breakthrough. Last season, Karl. Now, perhaps Binder, Daiber Santos or Assomo.
Kane, meanwhile, can even see a positive in Bayern's current troubles: "It's better that it happens now than in March or April. Of course, you hope it never happens. But you know from the history of football that injuries keep happening." With Bayern Munich having so much bad luck at present, perhaps a considerable share of good luck could build up for the decisive phase of the season. Bayern have also had to contend with coach Vincent Kompany's meningeal irritation and the death of Kimmich's father.