Ribery expected back for Bayern

French midfielder Franck Ribery is expected to return to action for Bayern Munich on Saturday at Bochum after missing the last week with a bruised leg, the defending champions announced Wednesday.

Ribery, 25, missed both Bayern’s 5-1 German league win over Hanover in the Bundesliga last Saturday, as well as their 7-1 hammering of Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Tuesday.

“We hope that he should be ready,” said Munich coach Jurgen Klinsmann, whose side are second in the league and four points behind Hertha Berlin.

Ribery underwent intensive treatment on Wednesday with Bayern’s medical staff and looks set to return to training on Thursday.

Bayern will be without the injured trio of striker Luca Toni, Tim Borowski and Hamit Altintop at Bochum, but Lukas Podolski and Christan Lell have shaken off thigh and ankle injuries respectively and are expected to face Bochum.