Bayern manager Nico Kovac says the German defender has not been ruled out just yet
Monday 18 February 2019 17:26, UK
Bayern Munich centre-back Jerome Boateng is expected to miss Tuesday's match against Liverpool in the Champions League last 16.
Bayern head coach Niko Kovac had previously ruled Boateng out of the match with stomach problems but said at his pre-match press conference there was a slight possibility he could feature.
Winger Franck Ribery was also absent as the German champions boarded their flight to the UK on Monday morning after becoming a father on Sunday night, but he will join the squad ahead of Tuesday's game.
Kovac said: "Franck Ribery will join up with us. We'll have to wait and see if Jerome Boateng can - if the doctors say he's not an infection risk, then he could yet be an option.
There's better news for Bayern regarding winger Kingsley Coman who suffered a knock in the closing stages of Friday's 3-2 away win over Augsburg in the Bundesliga.
Kovac added: "He's improving by the hour. Kingsley [Coman] needs to be completely pain-free. We're optimistic that the medical team will have him in shape by tomorrow night."
Arjen Robben, who has not featured for Bayern since late November due to a thigh injury, is not included in the 21-man squad.
Liverpool do have injury problems of their own. Roberto Firmino (virus) and Dejan Lovren (hamstring) missed training on Monday
Tuesday's match will be the first between these two teams since 1981.
