Bayern Munich’s interim manager Hans Flick has verified that Ivan Perisic will be sidelined for “at least four weeks” after sustaining an injury in training.
Perisic was fouled by Real Madrid loanee Alvaro Odriozola during a session on Tuesday morning, which left him with a fractured ankle.
Bayern are due to face off against Chelsea in the first leg of their last 16 Champions League tie on February 25, and might now be forced to make do without a prized asset at Stamford Bridge.
Flick revealed that the winger will be out for many weeks in a press conference, saying:”He as a fracture at the outside of the ankle.
“It takes at least four weeks until it’s healed and only then he will be able to start with building up training again.”
Bayern signed Perisic on a season-long loan from Inter last summer, with the possibility to buy included in the final agreement.
A 3-1 away win over Mainz on Saturday marked the 31-year-old’s fifth consecutive start for the club, and he’s got a total of five goals and eight assists to his name from 22 outings across all competitions this year.
The Croatia international will now sit out Bayern’s DFB cup conflict with Hoffenheim on Wednesday, in addition to a top of the table meeting with Leipzig this weekend.
He’s also likely to miss subsequent fixtures against Cologne and Paderborn before Flick starts preparing his side for a visit to London.
Bayern have disappointed in the Champions League during the last few decades, with their last success in the competition coming back in 2013.
The Bavarians were knocked out at exactly the exact same point by English opposition last season, losing to Liverpool 3-1 on aggregate, and will hope to avoid a repeat result when they take on Frank Lampard’s Chelsea.
Flick does still have the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Serge Gnabry available to substitute Perisic, but the Inter attacker will be a big miss given his extensive experience at the maximum level.
Bayern have been in fine form since returning to action following the winter break in Germany, securing comfortable wins over Hertha Berlin and Schalke before also seeing off Mainz.
The reigning Bundesliga winners returned to the summit after their latest victory, 1 point ahead of Leipzig and three ahead of third-placed Dortmund following 20 fixtures.
