Sadio Mane will return to Bayern Munich training on Sunday having missed three months with a fibula injury, but fellow forward Kingsley Coman will miss Saturday's trip to Borussia Monchengladbach.
Mane missed Senegal's run to the last 16 of the World Cup in Qatar after being required to undergo surgery in November.
Last month, coach Julian Nagelsmann suggested the former Liverpool man could be fit to feature in Bayern's Champions League last-16 tie against Paris Saint-Germain, but he was not involved as the Bundesliga champions claimed a 1-0 first-leg lead in the French capital on Tuesday.
Mane is making progress in his recovery, though, and Nagelsmann believes heck could be involved in a matchday squad after as little as one week of full training.
"He will return to team training on Sunday," Nagelsmann said of Mane on Friday. "He doesn't have any problems anymore, and his rehab was built to give him a regular workload.
"He has to get back his technical and tactical feelings with the team, but he's experienced, and he will be back rather quickly.
"Theoretically, he could play again after being back in team training for a week."
Having Mane involved again will be a huge boost for the Bundesliga leaders, who take on second-placed Union Berlin after facing Monchengladbach.
However, Bayern will be without Coman at Borussia-Park on Saturday, with the Frenchman complaining of a calf issue after scoring the only goal of the game against former club PSG.
"Kingsley Coman will not be available, he will get back to practice at the start of next week," Nagelsmann said. "Serge Gnabry will play tomorrow. He played a lot before Christmas and scored a lot.
"You need a good first XI that suits the opponent, but you also need good players that you can add to the mix. It always has to be a good balance."
Bayern's meeting with Gladbach will see goalkeeper Yann Sommer reunited with his former club, having made the move to Bavaria to cover for the injured Manuel Neuer in January.
"I'm very happy with his overall game. Against Paris, he was really called upon dramatically," Nagelsmann said of Sommer, who has kept three clean sheets in his last four games for Bayern.
"The goals he conceded in the Bundesliga were not easy. With the ball, with his presence, he's a really important part of the team.
"It will be a special game for him, against his former club. They will say farewell to him ahead of this game, and it will be a special moment, but he's not 18 years of age, so he will be able to put that aside and deliver a strong performance."
Flick believes possession-based style makes him ideal Barcelona boss
Hansi Flick believes the philosophy and principles of Barcelona closely resemble his own and is excited to get started after succeeding Xavi at Camp Nou.
On Wednesday, Barca confirmed former Bayern Munich boss Flick had signed a two-year contract to take over as head coach following Xavi's surprise dismissal.
Xavi had initially announced his departure in January, only for president Joan Laporta to convince him to conduct a U-turn and commit his future to the club. Amid reports of unrest behind the scenes, Barca then decided to part ways with the former midfielder.
Flick, who won two Bundesliga titles and the Champions League during a two-year spell with Bayern, is committed to conforming to Barca's traditions.
"It's a big honour and a dream for me to sign my contract here in Barcelona, with this amazing club," he told the club's media channels.
"The club is unbelievable. In the hours I was here in Barcelona, it has been amazing. Everyone loves the club and wants to have success.
"The philosophy they have for the club, it's similar to mine, with more possession and really attacking football. These are the things I love.
"Barcelona has one of the best academies in the world, a mix between some of the best players in the world and young, talented players.
"I won some titles with Bayern Munich and my hunger for titles is really big. I would like to stay on this path with Barcelona and I think we can achieve a lot together."
Flick's Bayern side were known for their high-pressing, possession-based brand of football.
Between his appointment in November 2019 and his exit in June 2021, they averaged the highest possession share in the Bundesliga (62.55 per cent) and won the ball in the final third 489 times, 172 clear of Borussia Dortmund, who were second by that metric (317).
They also led the way for wins (45), total shots (1,023) and goals (174) in that span, averaging exactly three goals per Bundesliga outing.
Barca will hope Flick's arrival gets more out of Robert Lewandowski, who set the Bundesliga's single-season goal record under him in 2020-21, netting 41 times in 29 matches.
Flick takes over at Barcelona following Xavi's U-turn sacking
Hansi Flick has been appointed the new head coach of Barcelona following the club's shock decision to sack Xavi.
A club announcement on Wednesday revealed Flick will take over ahead of next season after penning a two-year deal at Camp Nou.
Xavi initially announced in January he would leave Barca at the end of the season, but club president Joan Laporta managed to convince him to prolong his tenure.
However, just 30 days after that U-turn was announced, the club reversed its decision again, stating Xavi would be dismissed come the end of the campaign.
On Wednesday, the club formally announced Xavi's backroom staff would join him in departing, thanking the former midfielder for his "commitment, dedication and generosity" as well as his willingness to work towards a mutual termination of his contract.
With Xavi out the door, former Bayern Munich boss Flick will take over ahead of next season, looking to improve on the Catalan giants' runners-up finish in LaLiga behind rivals Real Madrid and their quarter-final Champions League exit this term.
Flick's last role was with the national team of Germany, though he lasted just over two years in that job as they crashed out at the group stage of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The German football federation initially stuck with Flick after that tournament, only to dismiss him after three successive friendly defeats last year.
Flick enjoyed more success in his most recent club role, leading Bayern to two Bundesliga titles, as well as a treble that included the club's sixth Champions League crown during his maiden campaign in charge in 2019-2020.
Flick would retain the Bundesliga title the next season, as well as adding the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup trophies before taking over the Germany role from Joachim Low.
Flick finished his time at Bayern with a win percentage of 80 per cent over his 145 matches in charge.
After then winning just 12 of his 25 games at the helm of Germany, Flick will be hoping for a stark improvement during his new role in Spain.
Seattle Sounders v Real Salt Lake: Mastroeni lauds visitors' 'magic' mentality
Pablo Mastroeni believes Real Salt Lake's "magic" mentality has helped them earn a reputation as comeback kings, though he is hoping for a more routine outing against the Seattle Sounders on Wednesday.
RSL fought back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 with FC Dallas last Saturday, having recovered from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits to beat the Colorado Rapids 5-3 one week earlier.
Mastroeni's men are now unbeaten in 11 league games and sit four points clear at the top of the Western Conference standings ahead of their midweek visit to the improving Sounders.
"It's not a surprise to me that the guys, given the scoreline, stay in there and fight," said Mastroeni. "It's a testament to the group.
"Everyone that's a part of this club has the same mindset, and I think when you're aligned in that way, magic like that happens.
"Obviously, we don't want it to happen too often, but I think it just shows the mental fortitude of the group."
Seattle have recorded back-to-back 2-1 wins over Phoenix Rising in the U.S. Open Cup and St. Louis City in MLS, moving within reach of the playoff places after a tough start to the year.
Boss Brian Schmetzer knows they will have to be at their very best to get anything against RSL, though.
Speaking after Saturday's win in St. Louis, Schmetzer said: "They were a little unlucky not to get a goal at the end. Our luck is changing.
"There is some momentum building but Real Salt Lake are a good team. We have to back up a good performance with another good performance against Real Salt Lake."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Seattle Sounders – Jordan Morris
Morris has scored in consecutive regular-season games for the first time since early last season.
He only has one streak of more than two straight games with a goal in MLS, finding the net in four appearances in a row between April and May 2016.
Real Salt Lake – Cristian Arango
Arango's 13 goals in MLS this season put him out on his own at the top of the goalscoring charts, two clear of Christian Benteke and Luis Suarez.
Four of those goals have come in RSL's last four games, with the team netting 12 times in that span.
MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW
Real Salt Lake extended their league-best unbeaten run to 11 regular-season games (seven wins, four draws) with their 3-3 draw at Dallas last Saturday.
This is their longest single-season unbeaten run since a 12-match streak to begin the 2014 campaign, though that streak ended with a loss in Seattle in late May.
The Sounders have improved of late, winning consecutive matches in all competitions for the first time this year. An entertaining draw could be on the cards.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Seattle Sounders – 35.6%
Real Salt Lake – 36.6%
Draw – 27.8%
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