Philipp Lahm Illness: Updates on Bayern Munich Star's Status and Return

Philipp Lahm missed Bayern Munich's trip to Hoffenheim through sickness. The versatile star featured during the German side's 3-1 Champions League loss to Porto on Wednesday but sat out of Saturday's fixture. He returned to the starting lineup on Tuesday against Porto.

Continue for updates.

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Lahm Starts vs. Porto

Tuesday, April 21

The club announced its starting lineup ahead of the Porto match, with Lahm returning to action:

On April 17, Bayern boss Pep Guardiola confirmed Lahm's absence during his pre-match press conference on Friday, as reported by the club's Twitter account:

Lahm has made just 13 Bundesliga starts this season after frustrating injury problems, per WhoScored.com. Guardiola has deployed him across midfield and in defence en route to leading Bayern to the top of the domestic table.

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

Although it was not confirmed how serious Lahm's illness was, Bayern fans no doubt hoped to have their leader back soon.

News of the player's absence added to Friday morning's headlines, which followed the departure of Bayern's medical team after it was allegedly blamed for the Porto loss, as reported by Oliver Todd of MailOnline.

World-renowned doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt confirmed that "the bond of trust is damaged" in an official statement, per Todd. Bayern have suffered this year, with Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mehdi Benatia, David Alaba and Javi Martinez among those to struggle with problems.

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

A top performance is needed to overturn the European deficit against Porto, a feat that would have become much tougher without Lahm on the pitch.