Boateng´s Champions League final ended prematurely by injury

Jerome Boateng was forced off with an injury midway through the first half or the Champions League final.

Bayern Munich’s centre-back went off at half-time with a muscular problem during the semi-final win over Lyon, but started against Paris Saint-Germain in Sunday’s showpiece after passing a late fitness test.

However, the 31-year-old managed just 25 minutes before succumbing to an apparent recurrence of the injury he sustained in Bayern’s previous outing.

Niklas Sule, who himself has endured an injury-hit campaign, came on as Boateng’s replacement, as he did against Lyon.

Get well soon, @JeromeBoateng! pic.twitter.com/YFfHL65s4b

— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) August 23, 2020

The change is the earliest a substitution has had to be made in a Champions League final since 2014, when Atletico Madrid’s Diego Costa was withdrawn in the ninth minute.

Prior to Boateng’s substitution, Neymar had forced a fine double save from Manuel Neuer, while Robert Lewandowski hit the post at the other end of a first half that ended goalless.