Ribery a doubt for Champions League clash after surgery on his backside

Bayern Munich dangerman Franck Ribery is a doubt for the Champions League last-16 tie with Arsenal after surgery on his buttocks.

The German club have not put a timescale on his expected absence but confirmed he would miss this weekend’s Bundesliga match against Nuremberg.

Ribery went under the knife on Thursday in a bid to free a trapped nerve in his gluteal muscles and he will remain in a Munich clinic until Sunday.

And Bayern boss Pep Guardiola said: ‘Hopefully, he can play in London.

‘Franck is important, I hope he can train as soon as possible and we are waiting on him.’The European champions face Arsenal at the Emirates on February 19 in their first-leg encounter.

Further tests after the weekend will determine how long Ribery is likely to be sidelined for, but Arsenal will be hoping he is still out of action by the time the Germans travel to London.

 

Bayern’s media director Markus Hoerwick confirmed the 30-year-old would be examined on Monday, adding: ‘Then we will know then if he can return to the team or will be out for longer.’

There was some good news for Guardiola with Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger having returned to training this week after a knee injury.

‘It’s the best news, said the Spaniard, who says Schweinsteiger just needs to ‘play, play, play’ to get his conditioning up.

The return leg with Arsenal at the Allianz Arena is on March 11.