Hummels blow for Bayern before Real clash

Apr 9, 2017 - 6:29 PM Bayern Munich defender Mats Hummels has been ruled out of Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final with Real Madrid.

"Very sad about missing at least the next two games..." Hummels tweeted after Bayern said he had suffered an "ankle joint distortion injury and will be sidelined for the foreseeable future."

Hummels will therefore miss the quarter-final home first leg with reigning European champions Real and faces a race against time to be fit for the April 18 return in Madrid.

In his absence, Spaniard Javi Martinez is likely to partner Jerome Boateng in the centre of defence.

Losing Hummels came a little more than 24 hours after the Robert Lewandowski scare when the Polish forward hurt himself in being fouled by Dortmund keeper Roman Buerki.

"It's not too bad. I didn't want to take any risks, and I'll prepare well for Wednesday," Lewandowski said.

With the Bundesliga all but in the bag - Bayern lead RB Leipzig by 10 points - it is the Champions League which offers not only the chance of real glory but gives coach Carlo Ancelotti the opportunity to make the season a spectacular success.

Previous boss Pep Guardiola won the Bundesliga three times out of three but three times out of three exited the Champions League at the semi-final stage.

Lewandowski, who has scored a league best 26 Bundesliga goals this season after his double against Dortmund, will be a key man in the ties with Real.

"Lewy sustained a bruise, but the medical unit says it's no problem with regard to Wednesday," a relieved Ancelotti said.

Source: AAP