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Pepe Reina injured in first Bayern appearance

ByGeoff Nichols|
Aug 6, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (1) reacts after giving up a goal to MLS All Stars midfielder Landon Donovan (10) of the Los Angeles Galaxy in the second half during the 2014 MLS All Star Game at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 6, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (1) reacts after giving up a goal to MLS All Stars midfielder Landon Donovan (10) of the Los Angeles Galaxy in the second half during the 2014 MLS All Star Game at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

Pepe Reina injured in first Bayern appearance

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Pepe Reina has suffered a blow at the start of his career with Bayern Munich, going down with a calf-injury only minutes into his a friendly match against a team of amateurs yesterday. The 32 year old Spanish keeper was brought in as a vastly experienced back-up the Bayern first choice Manuel Neuer, but Reina will have hoped to get game time in the cup competitions.

There was no-one around Reina when he felt the injury and often in sports that is when you know the injury is most serious. He was helped off of the field by Rafinha his teammate along with a club doctor and will hope to return to action as soon as possible.

Reina spent 9 successful years in England with Liverpool, but in 2013 they purchased Belgian young keeper Simon Mingolet and Reina appeared to have fallen out of favour with Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers. Rafael Benitez, who actually coached Reina at Liverpool, took the Spaniard to Napoli on a season long loan where he made 29 appearances.

There was speculation that he might return to Liverpool and be given a chance to challenge Mingolet for the starting spot, but those rumours proved unfounded as he was allowed to leave for a transfer to Bayern Munich.

It follows a growing trend for top clubs to have two keepers with experience in the squad, rather than using a young goalkeeper as back-up. In England, Chelsea have two world-class keepers in Thibaut Courtois and Petr Cech, whilst in Spain Barcelona have Andre ter Stegen and Claudio Bravo and Real Madrid have Iker Casillas and Keylor Navas.

Bayern’s third choice keeper is veteran Tom Starke, who has made 5 appearances for the club and will step up if Manuel Neuer is unavailable. Bayern will be hoping that is not the cause, with Neuer many fans pick as the best goalkeeper in the world at this moment.

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