Santa Cruz blow for Bayern

FC Bayern München will be without striker Roque Santa Cruz for at least six weeks after the Paraguayan suffered serious ligament damage.

Friendly game
The 21-year-old sustained the injury to his left knee during his side’s friendly match against Turkish side Galatasaray SK in Marbella, which ended in a goalless draw.

Similar injury
After 12 minutes the youngster hobbled off the field, and a few hours later the initial pessimistic diagnosis was confirmed. Santa Cruz suffered a very similar injury before the start of the current season, but celebrated a fantastic comeback when he recovered, immediately claiming a place in the starting eleven for the remainder of the autumn season.

Jeremies injured

Promising season
Santa Cruz, who played for his country at the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals in Korea/Japan, joined Bayern in 1999 from Club Olimpia and finally made the breakthrough at Bayern this season, scoring six goals in the 1. Bundesliga despite missing the first nine matches of the campaign.

European experience
The striker also played just two games in Bayern’s disastrous UEFA Champions League campaign. The 1999 European Champion Clubs’ Cup winners were dismissed after the first group stage this time round, but Santa Cruz announced his arrival on the highest stage in Europe with a goal in his side’s 2-1 defeat at RC Deportivo La Coruña.