THE FUSE

Bayern Munich's crowded treatment room looks set for another arrival.

Five minutes into the first leg of Canada's CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final against Guatemala (3-2), Alphonso Davies suffered an injury that has yet to be specified and had to come off.

Tracking back during a Guatemala attack, Davies slipped awkwardly in his own penalty area. He got up to block the ensuing shot, then sat down on the pitch and signalled that he could not continue. He visibly shook his head in frustration as he walked to the bench.

Canada's assistant coach Mauro Biello described Davies' injury as a "lower-body injury" after the match. Further examinations should provide a more precise diagnosis. "We were all really excited to see Phonzie again, and losing him so early really hit us hard," said team-mate and goalscorer Tani Oluwaseyi.

At Bayern Munich, the latest setback will raise fresh concerns. The German record champions are already missing numerous players, particularly in attack, including Ismael Saibari, Serge Gnabry, Jamal Musiala and Luis Diaz. Saibari (a torn syndesmosis ligament) and Gnabry (a muscle injury) are unlikely to play again this year, while Musiala and Diaz have at least resumed some team training and are due to return after the international break.

Another lengthy absence would be particularly bitter for Davies himself. Since suffering a cruciate ligament tear while with the national team in March 2025, the 26-year-old left-back has repeatedly struggled with subsequent muscle injuries, which particularly plagued him last season.

Was Alphonso Davies already carrying an injury at Bayern Munich?

Another muscle injury in the Champions League semi-final second leg against PSG cost Davies almost the entire home World Cup. The Canada captain made only a brief appearance in the round of 32. With his injured thigh still causing problems, Davies opted against any further appearances, mindful of the following season with Bayern Munich and the risk of an even more serious injury.

This season, to the relief of Bayern Munich's officials, Davies has been in good form and looked robust. At times, he even had the edge over Nathaniel Brown in the battle for the left-back position, before impressively deputising for the injured Diaz on the left wing.

Before the away match against Mainz 05, Vincent Kompany's deputy had hinted that Davies had recently been carrying an injury. "We have a few lads who could do with a rest," Danks explained a week ago, explicitly naming Davies, who was not yet ready to play almost the full match twice in succession.

Davies consequently came on only after almost 70 minutes of the record champions' 2-1 win over the team from Rheinhessen. Now he has suffered another setback while with the Canada national team.

Against Guatemala, Davies started for the first time since suffering a cruciate ligament and meniscus tear in 2025. Following that serious injury, Munich had strongly criticised the Canadian federation because the extent of Davies' injury became clear only after his return.