Germany midfielder Lena Oberdorf is set to make her official comeback from a severe knee injury after more than 13 months when Bayern Munich play Wolfsburg in the German women's Super Cup on Saturday. Oberdorf, 23, joined Bayern from Wolfsburg last year for a German record €400,000 ($466,000) but suffered a cruciate ligament tear in a European Championship qualifier against Austria in July 2024.
Germany midfielder Lena Oberdorf is set to make her official comeback from a severe knee injury after more than 13 months when Bayern Munich play Wolfsburg in the German women's Super Cup on Saturday.
Oberdorf, 23, joined Bayern from Wolfsburg last year for a German record €400,000 ($466,000) but suffered a cruciate ligament tear in a European Championship qualifier against Austria in July 2024.
That sidelined her for the entire past season in which Bayern won a Bundesliga and German Cup double, and she also missed Germany's run to the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics and a semi-final berth at last month's Euros in Switzerland.
Oberdorf has named the long rehabilitation process "hell" but has shown in pre-season games against Real Madrid and Olympique Lyon that the knee is holding up.
But the winner of four Bundesliga and German Cup titles each also admitted: "I realise in training how impatient I am when the balls don't come the way I am used to.
"I must give myself time to get back to my former level. It doesn't happen overnight," Oberdorf said.
The Super Cup will be the first official Bayern game and a real test for Oberdorf who will then also seek a return into the national team which will play a Nations League semi-final tie against France in late October.
"She is making progress, she is becoming better. We must take it step by step with her. No rush, no pressure," New Bayern coach José Barcala said.
Bayern women's football director Bianca Rech also called for patience with Oberdorf, saying: "She is having a very good pre-season, but you can see here and there that it isn't 110% yet."
Category: General Sports
