Football
Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent 9y

Bayern Munich's David Alaba out for seven weeks with knee injury

Bayern Munich defender David Alaba suffered a knee injury in Austria's 1-1 draw with Bosnia on Tuesday which has sidelined him for seven weeks.

Minutes before half-time, Bosnia defender Ermin Bikcaic fell on Alaba's left knee. Alaba did not emerge for the second half, and later told Austrian reporters he was concerned about the injury.

"I am in a great, great deal of pain, can barely walk, and don't really what's happening," Alaba was quoted by Kronen Zeitung, which reported that the Bayern player could have suffered a medial collateral ligament tear or even an anterior cruciate ligament tear.

"David has problems with his left knee, he felt a stitch. He's not doing well," Austria coach Marcel Koller said, with team doctor Richard Eggenhofer giving an initial diagnosis that he expects Alaba to be sidelined for "six to eight weeks."

On Wednesday, Bayern's official Twitter account confirmed Alaba will be out for around seven weeks having suffered ligament damage.

Should Alaba's rehabilitation go to plan then he should be available for Bayern's final two Bundesliga matches of the season, and also the Champions League and DFB Pokal finals, if his side reach the showpieces.

Alaba suffered an injury to his right knee in November 2014, and returned to Bayern's squad in early 2015. In spite of the injury, he has played 28 times for Pep Guardiola's side in all competitions, and has scored five goals.

He has played in several defensive positions for the Bundesliga leaders, and has been a mainstay for the club since his return. Alaba's impressive form has seen him linked with a summer transfer to Real Madrid, although his father ruled out a move to the Bernabeu.

Bayern, who at the weekend take on Borussia Dortmund at the Westfalenstadion, have a 10-point lead in the Bundesliga. Next Wednesday, they face Bayer Leverkusen in the DFB-Pokal quarterfinal, and the week after face Porto in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal.

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