Operation necessary: Tapsoba will miss Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen will be without regular central defender Edmond Tapsoba for the Europa League match at FK Karabakh Agdam. The 24-year-old will undergo surgery on his left hand and will therefore also miss the upcoming Bundesliga match against 1. FC Union Berlin. "We've decided that it's the right time to do the operation," said Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso on Wednesday before leaving for Azerbaijan. The Burkina Faso international should be fit again after the international break following the Union game.
Tapsoba was injured in the 5:2 defeat at SV Sandhausen in the second round of the DFB Cup. Last Saturday, he played in Bayer 04's 3:2 win at TSG Hoffenheim with a specially made splint.
With nine points from the first three games, Leverkusen can already secure progress in the Europa League in the game in Baku this Thursday (18:45/RTL+). A win will see Bayer 04 safely through the group stage.
Despite Tapsoba's absence due to his hand surgery, Bayer Leverkusen still aims to secure progress in the Europa League against FK Karabakh Agdam. Missing the central defender, who was injured during the DFB Cup match against SV Sandhausen, won't deter Leverkusen, as they remain eager to clinch a victory and guarantee their position in the group stage.
Source: www.dpa.com
