Chelsea’s Champions League round of 16 tie against Bayern Munich is fast approaching.
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.
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.
However, 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.