Football
Mark Lovell, Bayern Munich blogger 7y

Franck Ribery injury not as serious as first feared - Bayern's Ancelotti

Bayern Munich have received a boost after Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that Franck Ribery's injury is not as serious as at first thought.

Ribery was carried from the pitch by two medics on the half hour mark of Bayern's 2-0 defeat to Inter Milan in the International Champions Cup (ICC) in Singapore on Thursday.

Ribery, 34, is now Bayern's longest-serving player following the retirement of Philipp Lahm.

Captaining the side, Ribery suffered the injury following an innocuous challenge with Inter defender Milan Skriniar. However, a relieved Bayern boss Ancelotti confirmed at the post matchnews conference that the injury would not keep Ribery on the sidelines for long.

"Ribery has a little cut on the ankle," he said. "He needed some stitches but I think in two or three days he will be fit."

While the former France international said: "My ankle is swollen and I had two stitches. We'll see what it's like after three or four days break. But it isn't anything bad."

Last weekend, Juan Bernat suffered ankle ligament damage in the 4-0 defeat to AC Milan. The Spain international could be ruled out for a minimum of three months, while Thiago also flew home prematurely after picking up a thigh injury in training.

Arjen Robben didn't make the trip to Asia after suffering a muscle injury playing tennis on holiday.

The Bundesliga champions flew back to Germany immediately following the defeat as their 12-day tour of China and Singapore drew to a close. 

The games keep coming thick and fast though: Bayern face Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool in the annual Audi Cup tournament in Munich on Aug. 1 before facing either Atletico Madrid or Napoli the following day in the final or third-place playoff.

Their domestic campaign in Germany kicks off with a trip to rivals Borussia Dortmund in the DFL Supercup on Aug. 5, before Bayern begin their quest for a fifth consecutive Bundesliga title at home to Bayer Leverkusen on Aug. 18.

^ Back to Top ^