Manuel Neuer ruled out of key Champions League and Bundesliga matches

Bayern Munich captain Manuel Neuer will be sidelined after suffering a calf injury during Friday's 4-1 win over Borussia Monchengladbach. He felt discomfort in the first half and was substituted at the interval, and an in-depth examination by the medical department showed a small muscle fiber tear in his left calf.

The timing rules him out of the first leg of the Champions League round-of-16 tie against Atalanta on Tuesday, and there is a significant chance he will miss the return leg in Munich on March 18. Domestically, Bayern face key matches without their captain, including next weekend's clash with Bayer Leverkusen.

Medical staff will monitor his recovery with a view to a return after the international break, aiming for full fitness for the Freiburg match on April 4. This setback follows a recent calf problem that kept Neuer out of the Klassiker against Borussia Dortmund on February 28, which Bayern won 3-2.

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