Schalke without Huntelaar for Bayern clash
Schalke 04 will travel to Bavaria this weekend to face Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich without Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, it was announced on Thursday.
Huntelaar, 29, is still struggling with the eye problem that ruled him out of the Netherlands' 1-1 friendly draw with Italy in Amsterdam on Wednesday.
Schalke's interim coach Jens Keller revealed that Huntelaar, who has scored five goals in the Bundesliga this season, will not be able to return yet.
The former Ajax, AC Milan and Real Madrid player ruptured a blood vessel in his left eye while training with the Dutch squad on Tuesday, with Oranje coach Louis van Gaal calling up Arjen Robben as a replacement.
Huntelaar has not scored since late November but his absence is still a blow for the Royal Blues, who head to the Allianz Arena on a run of just one win in nine Bundesliga outings, and currently sit seven points adrift of the Champions League qualifying positions.
They are due to face Galatasaray of Turkey in the Champions League last 16, with the first leg scheduled for February 20 in Istanbul.
