Soccer-Keeper Prescott, 16, is an option against Atalanta, says Bayern coach Kompany


Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayer Leverkusen v Bayern Munich - BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany - March 14, 2026 Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany before the match REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen

MUNICH, Germany, March 17 (Reuters) - Bayern ⁠Munich could give 16-year-old keeper Leonard Prescott his debut in their Champions ⁠League round of 16 return leg against visitors Atalanta should Jonas ‌Urbig fail to recover from a concussion, coach Vincent Kompany said on Tuesday.

Prescott, a Germany youth international, plays for the Under-19s and had to get special clearance to work in the evening as ​a teenager ahead of a potential start on ⁠Wednesday. He is the only option ⁠should Urbig, who picked up a concussion in Bayern's 6-1 first leg win ⁠in ‌Italy last week, not be fit.

"Jonas trained normally today. The decision tomorrow will be a medical one,' Kompany told a press conference. "If everything goes ⁠well then Urbig will be in goal. If not ​then we will have ‌to find another solution.

"He (Prescott) is very calm. Overall, we as a staff ⁠are also calm. ​If he plays tomorrow he will have our full backing. Everyone will help. There will never be a young player who will be forced to play a main role," ⁠Kompany said. "We have full confidence in him whatever ​happens tomorrow."

Bayern are without first-choice keeper Manuel Neuer, who is working towards a comeback but is not fit yet. Third-choice keeper Sven Ulreich joined Neuer and Urbig on the ⁠injury list after picking up an adductor muscle problem in Saturday's 1-1 Bundesliga draw at Bayer Leverkusen.

The Bavarians have no plans to play it safe despite their big advantage in the tie.

"You cannot allow too much. We made such an ​effort to build up the momentum we have," Kompany ⁠said. "This is not a friendly match... and if it is not about the result, ​it is about performance."

Atalanta or Bayern, who lead ‌the Bundesliga title race and are through ​to the German Cup last four, will face Real Madrid or Manchester City in the last eight.

(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann, editing by Ed Osmond)

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