Manuel Neuer targets Dortmund return despite calf injury

Manuel Neuer faces a race against time after leaving the pitch at half-time in Bayern's 3-0 win at Werder Bremen nine days ago with a muscle fibre tear in his left calf. The injury typically requires a three-week recovery, and with the Der Klassiker at Signal Iduna Park scheduled in two weeks many had written him off.

On Monday Neuer emerged from the dressing rooms shortly after 11am with goalkeeper coach Michael Rechner and rehab specialist Simon Martinello and completed a tailored 30-minute session focused on ground-based exercises and initial ball handling. He began light catching drills from 11:39am but remains off limits for full-intensity saves and diving.

Bayern director Max Eberl hinted the goalkeeper's return is possible, saying "Not excluded!" while the club weighs the risk of a relapse. Jonas Urbig, the 22-year-old €7 million signing from Koln, has stood in during Neuer's absences and has made 21 appearances for the club across two seasons.

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