Sad night at the Allianz Arena.. Ismael Saibari on crutches and Eberl confirms: "The injury is more serious"

31.10.26 FT Bundesliga Germany

Bayern Munich

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Borussia Dortmund

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Morocco international Ismael Saibari suffered a worrying injury during Bayern Munich's 2-2 Bundesliga draw against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday 31 October forcing him to leave the Klassiker in the 29th minute.

The 25 year old midfielder injured his right leg following a collision with Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel at the Allianz Arena, requiring assistance from two members of Bayern's medical staff to leave the pitch.

The incident occurred in the 24th minute, with Saibari visibly struggling to put weight on his right foot.

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How did Ismael Saibari suffer his injury against Dortmund?

The incident occurred during one of Bayern Munich's most promising attacking opportunities of the opening half.

Konrad Laimer played a through ball behind Dortmund's defence, allowing Saibari to race towards goal and confront Kobel.

However, the Moroccan midfielder pushed the ball slightly too far ahead, enabling the Swiss goalkeeper to intervene and block his attempt.

As Saibari continued challenging for the loose ball, he collided with Kobel, awkwardly twisting his right leg.

The Bayern midfielder immediately fell to the ground in visible discomfort.

Medical staff rushed onto the pitch and provided treatment before helping him leave the field.

Saibari was eventually replaced by Nathaniel Brown in the 29th minute.

Former Germany international Lothar Matthäus, analysing the incident for Sky Sport, expressed concern over the awkward position of the player's knee and his inability to put weight on his injured leg.

However, the precise nature of the injury remained unconfirmed.

Bayern Munich face further injury concerns after Gnabry setback

Saibari's withdrawal was followed by another major setback for Bayern Munich.

Just two minutes later, German international Serge Gnabry also required treatment after experiencing discomfort in his leg.

The forward was replaced by Josip Stanišić in the 31st minute.

Michael Olise subsequently left the pitch with physical discomfort during the second half, adding to Bayern's injury concerns.

Following the match, sporting director Max Eberl acknowledged that Saibari's and Gnabry's injuries appeared more concerning than initially hoped.

"Both injuries are somewhat more serious" Eberl said according to Bavarian Football Works, although he did not provide a confirmed medical diagnosis.

Saibari was also reportedly seen leaving the Allianz Arena on crutches.

The injuries overshadowed an entertaining Klassiker that ended 2-2 after Borussia Dortmund twice recovered from a goal down.

As Foot Africa reported in its match coverage, Guinea international Serhou Guirassy scored Dortmund's first equaliser before Fabio Silva secured a point in the 89th minute.

Injury interrupts Saibari's impressive Bayern Munich form

The setback comes at an unfortunate time for the Moroccan international who has been developing into an important attacking option since joining Bayern Munich from PSV Eindhoven during the summer.

Saibari had delivered another impressive performance just three days earlier.

During Bayern's 6-1 German Cup victory over Magdeburg on October 28, the midfielder scored once and provided an assist.

He created Michael Olise's opening goal in the tenth minute before restoring Bayern's lead with a composed finish in the 21st.

As Foot Africa previously highlighted, Saibari recorded a goal and an assist against Magdeburg, taking his tally to three goals and three assists across all competitions this season.

His growing influence has been particularly important with Bayern already dealing with the absences of attacking players Jamal Musiala and Luis Díaz.

A prolonged absence would therefore present another challenge for the German champions.

Will Saibari miss Morocco's upcoming AFCON 2027 qualifiers?

The injury also creates uncertainty for Morocco ahead of November's international fixtures.

The Atlas Lions are scheduled to face Niger on 13 and 17 November in the qualifying campaign for the Africa Cup of Nations 2027.

Head coach Mohamed Ouahbi is expected to announce his squad on 4 November, making Saibari's fitness an immediate concern.

The midfielder's availability will depend on the results of Bayern Munich's medical examinations and the recovery period required.

For Bayern, the situation is equally pressing.

The German champions travel to face Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday 3 November, leaving little time for Saibari to recover before another important European encounter.

No official diagnosis or confirmed return date had been announced at the time of reporting.

With Saibari leaving the Allianz Arena on crutches, both Bayern Munich and Morocco must now await medical confirmation to determine whether the midfielder faces a short absence or a more significant spell on the sidelines.

Khaled Hegazy |

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Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.

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