Bayern Munich dealt huge defensive blow ahead of Arsenal second leg

Bayern Munich have lost an integral defender to suspension for their Champions League quarter-final second leg with Arsenal at the Allianz Arena.

Thomas Tuchel's men arrived in North London for Tuesday's first leg having received a quintuple fitness boost, as all of Manuel Neuer, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Kingsley Coman, Leroy Sane and Noussair Mazraoui travelled with the team.

Neuer and Sane were both promoted back to the Bavarians' starting lineup, the former protected by a four-man backline of Eric Dier, Matthijs de Ligt, Joshua Kimmich and Alphonso Davies.

However, Davies was one of three Bayern players - alongside Leon Goretzka and the injured Sacha Boey - one booking away from a Champions League ban, having already been booked twice in this season's tournament.

The left-back was cautioned in both of his side's group matches, and within the first 10 minutes of Tuesday's first leg, Davies entered the book for a foul through the back of Bukayo Saka.

As a result, the Canada international will not be available for next week's second leg on account of being booked three times in the 2023-24 Champions League, depriving Tuchel of one of his fundamental rearguard members.

Tuchel has a like-for-like replacement in the form of Raphael Guerreiro, though, and the ex-Borussia Dortmund man will be expected to deputise for Davies next week.