Bayern Munich’s Spain midfielder Thiago Alcantara is expected to miss the rest of the season after a scan revealed he has partially torn the medial ligament in his right knee.
The 22-year-old attacking midfielder must wear a cast for the next 14 days and is expected to be sidelined for the next six to eight weeks after limping off in Saturday’s 3-3 draw at home against Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga.
He has been ruled out of Tuesday's Uefa Champions League quarter-final first leg at Manchester United, as well as the return leg in Munich on April 9 and the semi-finals at the end of April, should Bayern progress in their bid to retain the title.
“That is bad news. We will miss him very much,” said Pep Guardiola, the Bayern coach.
With the Bundesliga title now secured with a record seven games to spare, the timing of the injury is a blow with Bayern's bid to become the first team to defend the Champions League title.
“That’s extremely bitter news and comes at a catastrophic time for us, just before the important matches,” Bayern’s winger Thomas Muller said.
Thiago is expected to be fit for Spain at the World Cup, which kicks off on June 12 in Brazil, and has been a central component in Bayern’s midfield with the pinpoint accuracy of his passing.
This is the second significant injury this season for Thiago, who joined Bayern from Barcelona in July. He spent two months on the sidelines with an ankle injury he picked up last August.
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