Bayer Leverkusen also has to do without striker Patrik Schick in the round of 16 second leg of the Europa League at Ferencváros Budapest.
The Czech continues to struggle with groin problems. “He’s still in pain there and can’t go to Budapest with him,” said sporting director Simon Rolfes on Wednesday morning during the final training session. Karim Bellarabi, who is ill, is also absent.
Whether he could become an issue against FC Bayern Munich on Sunday is “not easy to answer,” said Rolfes: “It could be difficult.” However, one continues to assume that no surgical intervention is necessary. “We continue to hope that we can get it under control like this,” said Rolfes: “And that we can get it under control in the near future. It’s not an easy injury. You have to see that you make progress step by step.”
Schick had to undergo a minor groin surgery right after last season, in which he was the second-best Bundesliga goalscorer after Robert Lewandowski with 25 goals. He played until mid-October, then missed two games, completed two games and then took a break from early November to mid-February. After six substitutions in a row, he was absent for the first time in Bremen on Sunday.