Bayern Munich and France defender Lucas Hernandez is undergoing rehabilitation following knee ligament surgery. - © imago

bundesliga

Bayern Munich's Lucas Hernandez to miss start of 2021/22 season

12.07.2021

Bayern Munich will be without Lucas Hernandez for the start of the 2021/22 season as the French defender continues his recovery from knee surgery.

Hernandez recently went under the knife to repair a torn medial ligament in his left knee sustained with France at UEFA Euro 2020.

The 25-year-old is expected to sidelined for at least six weeks, ruling him out of Bayern's pre-season calendar, their DFB Cup first-round meeting with Bremer (6-9 August), Bundesliga opener at Borussia Mönchengladbach (13 August) and potentially the DFL Supercup clash with Borussia Dortmund (17 August).

Hernandez has played 62 times for Bayern since his summer 2019 move from Atletico Madrid, including 42 in the Bundesliga, where he boasts a proud record of having never lost when starting and only suffering one defeat all told. He didn't lose a single match at all in his first season as Bayern won the treble, and featured in 37 matches last term as the record champions claimed the DFL Supercup, UEFA equivalent, FIFA Club World Cup and a ninth successive Bundesliga title.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner, who is capable of playing at left- or centre-back, started two group games for France at this summer's Euros, including the 1-0 win over Germany where he assisted the winning goal, but missed their last-16 elimination to Switzerland with the knee issue. He previously underwent surgery on ligaments in his right knee before joining Bayern, as well as his right ankle during the 2019/20 campaign.

Hernandez's (l.) last competitive appearance was against Cristiano Ronaldo's (r.) Portugal in UEFA Euro 2020 Group F. - imago

New Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann could also be without left-back Alphonso Davies for the start of the campaign. The Canadian is back in Munich recovering from an ankle injury sustained in training during his country's 2021 Gold Cup preparations.

Summer signing Omar Richards is the only other out-and-out left-sided defender in Bayern's first-team squad, though Bouna Sarr and Josip Stanisic have played in the position. Frenchman Remy Vita has made 25 appearances at left-back for Bayern's reserves, meanwhile, and was an unused senior substitute on Matchday 28 of the 2020/21 Bundesliga season.