Bayer 04 Leverkusen will be without Switzerland striker Eren Derdiyok for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 match against FC Barcelona.
The 23-year-old forward trod on a shard of glass while at home on Thursday night and required seven stitches in his foot. "Eren stepped in some glass at his apartment," confirmed Bayer coach Robin Dutt. "The wound has been stitched but the foot has to be rested for at least ten days. He will be sidelined for two to three weeks."
The news will come as a blow to Dutt as Derdiyok is Leverkusen's top scorer in the Bundesliga this season with six goals. He has also found the target twice in the UEFA Champions League and once in the German Cup.
The Bundesliga outfit have already had to contend with losing midfielder Sidney Sam, who has been ruled out for will the next two months after picking up a thigh muscle injury during Saturday's 2-2 draw with VfB Stuttgart.
Sam, who started all six of Leverkusen's matches in UEFA Champions League Group E, scoring once, had to be brought off 12 minutes after being introduced as a 72nd-minute substitute against Stuttgart.
Dutt explained: "It's obviously a difficult situation for us at the moment, as almost every week we have new injuries to complain about. Sidney Sam will definitely be unavailable for the next two months."
Leverkusen face reigning champions Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League round of 16, with the first leg in Germany on 14 February and the Camp Nou return scheduled for 7 March.
uefa.com
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