Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery and Medhi Benatia out until 2016
Friday 11 December 2015 14:39, UK
Bayern Munich duo Franck Ribery and Medhi Benatia have both been ruled out until 2016, a particular blow to the French winger after his recent injury struggles.
Ribery only returned from over nine months on the sidelines to score in last weekend's 3-1 defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach.
He lasted just a half of Bayern's 2-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb in midweek, however, before being replaced due to a muscular injury, and it has proven to be worse than first feared.
"We're going to have to take things slowly, even if I want more," Ribery told Sport Bild magazine.
The Bavarian club confirmed via their website on Friday that both he and Benatia will not play a part in any of Bayern's final three fixtures of 2015, two in the Bundesliga and one in the DFB-Pokal.
Both have been diagnosed with muscular injuries, with Ribery's problem in his thigh, and not a recurrence of the ankle complaint that forced him out for such a long period until last weekend.
Their loss leaves coach Pep Guardiola with a growing list of absentees, which already includes David Alaba, Douglas Costa, Juan Bernat, Mario Gotze and Arjen Robben.
