Ribéry out, Van Buyten a doubt for Köln clash

Bayern winger Arjen Robben will be out of action for three to four weeks after injuring his right knee in the goalless draw with Juventus on Wednesday night. FCB chief medic Dr. Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt confirmed the diagnosis after the player underwent an MRI scan on Thursday.

Following the examination, Robben made his way to Augsburg, where renowned specialist Dr. Ulrich Boenisch will repair the damage surgically later in the day or on Friday. “It’s not such a bad injury. The meniscus and ligaments are intact,” reported a clearly relieved FCB boss Louis van Gaal. For once, the international match calendar will help rather than hinder Bayern on this occasion: “Fortunately, the Bundesliga takes a break for internationals next weekend."

Ribéry and Van Buyten nursing knocks

The men from Munich have a problem on the opposite flank as well, as Franck Ribéry came away from an encouraging display against Juventus with an injury of his own. The Frenchman has suffered a reaction to an old injury causing an inflammation of the knee. “Robben and Ribéry are definitely out,” commented Van Gaal in the build-up to Saturday’s Bundesliga fixture at home to FC Köln. Van Gaal’s normal approach is to accept injuries as part of the game, “but it’s a blow when Robben and Ribéry are injured at the same time,” the Bayern coach remarked.

Among the defenders, Daniel van Buyten hurt his foot in Wednesday’s European fixture and is a doubt for the Köln clash after sitting out Thursday training. “It was a battlefield," summarised van Gaal on surveying the injury roster after the meeting with Juve.