Vincent Kompany will be unavailable for Bayern Munich's top-of-the-table clash against Borussia Dortmund and for several weeks beyond. The head coach is sidelined with a virus-induced brain inflammation. The team faces their direct rivals on Saturday 31 October, with Bayern leading the table by a five-point margin.

Kompany felt unwell during an U23 training session a week ago and later collapsed. Subsequent examinations revealed meningitis, most likely triggered by a virus. The 40-year-old has been discharged from hospital but must now undergo an extended period of rest. Max Eberl said the good news was that Kompany was stable. The sporting director emphasised the patience required, stating they were not starting to build any time corridors and would be talking for weeks, not days.

Danks takes temporary charge

Assistant coach Aaron Danks will assume responsibility for the team in the interim. He will take charge of the squad for Saturday evening's Bundesliga summit meeting against direct rivals Borussia Dortmund at home. The match is of significant importance as Bayern, while leading the standings, are in a difficult patch with just one win from their last five competitive matches. Their recent form reads one win, two draws and two defeats. Their latest outing was encouraging, however: a 6-1 victory in the DFB-Pokal against 1. FC Magdeburg on Wednesday 28 October, where Michael Olise scored twice. Recent results include a 3-1 win at SC Freiburg, a 2-2 draw with Arsenal, a 6-1 victory over RB Leipzig and a 3-3 draw at Viking. Top scorer Michael Olise, who has six goals in seven appearances this season, was also on target in the 3-1 win at Freiburg.

Kompany will miss the Dortmund game as well as the Pokal round of 16 tie in Magdeburg. A return to the touchline is not expected until after the upcoming international break in November at the earliest. The Belgian has been in post for nearly two and a half years, giving him a longer tenure than any Bayern coach since Pep Guardiola. His contract in Munich runs for several more seasons.

The situation presents an unusual challenge for the club, hitting the team at a time when they urgently need consistency. The hope is that the team can find the necessary stability under Danks's interim leadership. Kompany's medical care is the top priority as the squad focuses on Saturday's top match, which kicks off at 18:30.

The original report is at NZZ Sport