BUNDESLIGA
Why will Gio Reyna not play in Borussia Dortmund’s Bundesliga game against Bayern Munich?
BVB coach Edin Terzic confirmed that the USMNT star would be forced to sit out Der Klassiker in Munich on Saturday.
Having returned to Germany after appearing for the USMNT in the Concacaf Nations League group games against Grenada and El Salvador, Gio Reyna had been expected to feature for Borussia Dortmund in their crucial do-or-die Bundesliga clash against Bayern Munich. BVB travel to the Allianz Arena a point ahead of their long-time rivals and know a victory would go a long way to securing a first league title in more than a decade.
Unfortunately for the 20-year-old, however, he will not be able to take part in what promises to be a mouthwatering clash in Bavaria, which will be a blow to Dortmund boss Edin Terzic, even though Reyna hasn’t been a fixture in the starting line-up in recent games.
What’s wrong with Reyna?
Terzic confirmed the American’s absence in a pre-match press conference on Friday, revealing that Reyna had returned from his trip to the States with a bad cold, which would prevent him from playing against Bayern, who will be coached for the first time by former Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel following the surprise sacking of Julian Nagelsmann.
“Unfortunately Gio Reyna and Thomas Meunier are out. Gio has a cold and has been in bed since yesterday. Thomas is suffering from back problems and was unable to complete yesterday’s training session”, explained Terzic.
Bayern bring bad luck for Reyna...and Dortmund
Bayern Munich have brought nothing but bad luck for Reyna this season, as he also missed the first meeting between the teams, a 2-2 draw at Signal Iduna Park, because of a muscle strain.
Not that Dortmund have had much good fortune against the Bavarians on the whole. That draw in October ended a run of eight successive defeats, while the last time the Black and Yellows won in Munich was all the way back in April 2014. Since then, they have suffered 4-1, 4-0, 5-0 and 6-0 defeats at the Allianz Arena. They’ll argue, though, that are due a victory which could see them snatch the trophy away from its habitual home.