Alaba faces seven-week absence

Bayern Munich’s David Alaba faces seven weeks on the sidelines with knee ligament damage, the club have confirmed.

The Austria international has been diagnosed with a medial collateral ligament tear in his left knee, sustained during his country’s friendly with Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday.

Following a collision with Hoffenheim’s Ermin Bicakcic, the versatile midfielder was substituted at half-time in Vienna and now faces a battle to feature for Pep Guardiola’s side again this season.

Alaba will spend the next two weeks with his leg in a cast and adds to a Bayern injury list that currently includes dangermen Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery.

The 22-year-old’s impending absence is unlikely to halt Bayern’s charge towards a third consecutive Bundesliga title, but he will miss both legs of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final with Porto.

Alaba, who spent more than two months out earlier this season after partially tearing the medial ligament and damaging the meniscus in his right knee, is eager to return before the end of the campaign.

“I’m obviously very sad but I have a big goal: I want to be back at the season finale,” he told Bayern’s official website.

“I will recover well now and then give everything in rehab.”