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Bayern Munich's Thiago Alcantara out for 'several weeks' with ankle injury

Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara will be sidelined for "several weeks" after suffering an ankle injury in the DFB Pokal tie against fourth-tier Rodinghausen on Tuesday, the club have confirmed.

Alcantara, 27, was injured in a late challenge by Rodinghausen's Bjorn Schlottke after 73 minutes and later left the stadium on crutches.

"FC Bayern must do without Thiago for several weeks," a club statement said on Wednesday.

"The Spain international sustained a ligament tear in his right ankle in the cup match at Rodinghausen, a medical by Bayern Munich club doctor Hans-Wilhem Muller-Wohlfahrt revealed."

After the match, Bayern coach Niko Kovac had told Sky that "it doesn't look good right now," while sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic said the injury was a "bitter" setback.

Thiago has played in 14 of Bayern's 15 matches so far this season, missing only the Champions League game at Benfica with a toe injury.

His injury comes less than two weeks before Bayern Munich's visit to Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund, who are two points ahead of them. Bayern host Freiburg this weekend.