Xavi had to be helped off the field of play in RB Leipzig's defeat to Liverpool. - © Maja Hitij - Getty
Xavi had to be helped off the field of play in RB Leipzig's defeat to Liverpool. - © Maja Hitij - Getty
bundesliga

RB Leipzig's Xavi set for lay-off with ankle injury

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RB Leipzig will be without star attacker Xavi for "several weeks" after the club confirmed an ankle ligament injury during their 1-0 UEFA Champions League defeat to Liverpool.

The Dutchman went down in pain during a tangle with Andy Robertson in the 78th minute of the match and had to be carried off by medical staff.

On Thursday, the club released a statement, which read: "Xavi unfortunately suffered a ligament injury in his left ankle in yesterday's Champions League game against Liverpool and will be out for several weeks. The treatment method is still to be decided."

The prognosis means that Xavi will miss Saturday’s Bundesliga clash with Freiburg where the winner will top the table for at least one night before Bayern Munich play on Sunday.

He will also miss the DFB Cup tie with St. Pauli, and a crucial Bundesliga clash with Borussia Dortmund on 2 November. Leipzig then face Celitc in the Champions League, before league games against Hoffenheim and Inter Milan to see out November.

The 21-year-old has been Leipzig’s third-most productive player so far this season, registering three goals and two assists in all competitions after returning on loan for another year from Paris Saint-Germain.

Watch: All of Xavi's Bundesliga goals and assists

The news takes Leipzig’s injury list up to five players. David Raum and Xaver Schlager both have ligament injuries, while Nicolas Seiwald and Assan Ouédraogo are still in the treatment room. Lukas Klostermann is also expected to miss the weekend’s clash with Frieburg due to illness.