Champions League: Injury crisis hits Arsenal and Real Madrid as Kane nears new Bayern deal

The second round of Champions League fixtures on 13-14 October 2026 sees European heavyweights hit by a devastating injury crisis. Arsenal have suffered a major blow with Louie Copley ruled out until April 2027 after rupturing his cruciate ligament. Conversely, Manchester United have been boosted by the return of Matthijs de Ligt after 10 months on the sidelines.

Injury crisis sweeps through European giants ahead of Matchday 2

PSG face the prospect of losing young midfielder Senny Mayulu for their clash against Manchester City on 14 October 2026 after he picked up a thigh injury whilst on duty with the France Under-21s. In Spain, Real Madrid have been hit hard with Eder Militao sidelined, Ferland Mendy ruled out for the rest of 2026, and Rodrygo out of action until early 2027.

As for Arsenal, Louie Copley's injury has been confirmed as a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), keeping him out of action until late April 2027. On a brighter note, Manchester United's Matthijs de Ligt has returned to full training after completing 10 months of rehabilitation for a back injury.

Yann Aurel Bisseck commits long-term future to Inter Milan

Centre-back Yann Aurel Bisseck insisted he did not hesitate for a second when deciding to extend his contract with Inter Milan, the club he joined in 2023. The German defender expressed his absolute loyalty and committed his long-term future to the Nerazzurri.

Bisseck's ultimate goal is to win the Champions League with Inter Milan, a competition where they suffered heartbreak following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in the 2023 final.

Alongside his European ambitions, the centre-back confidently declared that Inter Milan are currently the dominant force and the strongest team in Italy.

Barcelona and Inter Milan battle for wonderkid Finn Jeltsch

Scouts from Barcelona and Inter Milan were both in attendance to watch Stuttgart's 3-1 victory over Viking FK on 9 September 2026, running the rule over 20-year-old centre-back Finn Jeltsch. The youngster's assured performance has made him a top target for both European giants.

Jeltsch had previously proved his pedigree by winning the prestigious Fritz Walter Gold Medal in 2025 in the Under-19 category, quickly catching the eye of Jürgen Klopp. His rapid rise has earned the defender a place in Germany's 44-man preliminary national squad.

Harry Kane in talks over new Bayern Munich contract

Striker Harry Kane has confirmed that talks over a new contract with Bayern Munich are progressing very positively. The move completely pours cold water on transfer rumours linking him with Barcelona, who have been monitoring the England captain closely as his current deal expires in June 2027.

Kane recently claimed his second consecutive European Golden Shoe after the conclusion of the 2025-2026 season, underlining his sensational goalscoring record and indispensable role at the Allianz Arena.

Author's view

The second round of the Champions League league phase kicks off in mid-October with several European heavyweights severely depleted. Real Madrid are without Militao, Mendy, and Rodrygo, Arsenal are missing Louie Copley long-term, and PSG could be without Senny Mayulu against Manchester City. The only squad boost belongs to Manchester United, who welcome back centre-back Matthijs de Ligt.

This widespread injury crisis will severely test the ambition and squad depth of the title contenders. In your opinion, which club will best navigate this selection headache to secure a convincing victory?