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)

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Football

Soccer-Athletic Bilbao appoint former Dortmund manager Terzic as coach
Faisal marks acid attack anniversary with focus on Selangor’s semi-final mission
Soccer-McFarlane rues Chelsea's poor start in Nottingham loss
Soccer-Real Madrid's Mendy suffers fresh injury setback
Soccer-Man City drop points in title race after shocking draw with Everton
Soccer-Title race slips from City's grasp as Guardiola concedes control
Soccer-Big Norwegian names to light up Women's Champions League final in Oslo
Soccer Iraq to face Andorra and Spain in friendlies ahead of World Cup return
Soccer-Chelsea slump to worst run in 33 years after Forest defeat
Soccer-FIFA bans former Guyana football official Alves for five years over harassment

Others Also Read