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Football London
Football London
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Tashan Deniran-Alleyne

Bayern Munich suffer massive injury blow ahead of Champions League tie vs Chelsea

Chelsea's Champions League round of 16 tie against Bayern Munich is fast approaching.

For the Blues, the tie evokes wonderful memories.

Back in 2012 they surprised many by overcoming Napoli and Barcelona to reach the final and then against all the odds they went on to beat Bayern on penalties after Didier Drogba had equalised in normal time.

Oliver Harbord's verdict on Bayern Munich vs Chelsea

What made the victory all the more sweeter for Chelsea is that they became the first London side to win the Champions League - a feat which stands to this very day after Tottenham Hotspur's loss in the final last season.

And there's some more bad news for Bayern ahead of the first-leg.

Ivan Perisic will miss the game at Stamford Bridge on February 25 with an ankle injury sustained in training.

A statement via the club's official website reads: "FC Bayern will be without Ivan Perišić for the time being. The 31-year-old Croatia international sustained a fracture to his outer ankle during training on Tuesday.

"The ankle has to be screwed together. It will take around four weeks for the injury to heal, then he'll begin recovery training," confirmed Bayern coach Hansi Flick during the press conference before the DFB Cup last-16 match against Hoffenheim.

"It's not easy for us at this moment in time because Ivan has been in very good form, and his dynamism and experience have helped us a lot."

Whilst Perisic is certainly out of the game in west London, he could be available for the second leg.

Bayern welcome the Blues to the Allianz Arena on March 18 which gives the Croatia international six weeks to recover.

An arrival from Inter Milan on a season-long loan deal last summer, Perisic has made 22 appearances across all competitions for Bayern this season, netting five goals in the process.

In addition, he's weighed in with three assists in the Champions League despite starting just two games in the group stage.

As a result, the current Bundesliga leaders will miss the 31-year-old's creativity from out wide at Stamford Bridge.

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