Dortmund's Bender available despite nose break
Reuters - Thursday 22 November 2012, 14:03
Borussia
Dortmund midfielder Sven Bender has been cleared to play in Saturday's
league match at Mainz 05 despite breaking his nose in their 4-1
Champions League win at Ajax Amsterdam, coach Jurgen Klopp said on
Thursday.
Bender, who broke
facial bones in two injuries last season, was elbowed in the face and
taken off after 63 minutes of Wednesday's game.
"It
is confirmed that Bender broke his nose," the club said in a statement
on Thursday after conducting further tests on the player. "The team
doctor has ruled he can play against Mainz."
"Maybe [Sebastian] Kehl's mask fits Manni [Bender]," joked coach Klopp earlier in the day.
Dortmund captain Kehl also broke his nose earlier this season and played with a face mask.
The
German champions, who advanced to the Champions League knockout stage,
are nine points behind leaders Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga in fourth
place.