Bayerns Hernandez sidelined with ankle ligament injury

Bayern Munich defender Lucas Hernandez will be sidelined for an unspecified period of time after partially tearing ankle ligaments in their 3-2 win over Olympiakos in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The France international went down without a challenge in the 58th minute and had to be helped off the pitch, leaving the stadium on crutches.

He joined Niklas Suele on the club’s injury list after his fellow defender tore cruciate ligaments on Saturday and will be out for several months.

“Bayern will be without Lucas Hernandez for the coming period,” the club said in a statement on Wednesday. “He sustained a partial tear of a ligament in his right ankle.”

Bayern did not say how long he would be out but his and Suele’s injuries could not have come at a worse time, with Bayern leaking goals this season.

They have conceded two goals in each of their last five games and have dropped to third in the Bundesliga after winning just one of their last three league matches.

There was some good news for the Bavarians, who face Union Berlin in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

Defensive midfielder Javi Martinez, who was taken off at halftime, was diagnosed with only a small muscle problem while winger Serge Gnabry is nursing a minor knock to his knee.

“Both will train in specific dosages in the coming days,” Bayern said.