Update: Rafinha may be out for three months

In what is quickly becoming a costly game for Bayern Munich, Rafinha took a crushing challenge to his ankle from Karim Bellarabi and has left the contest.

Bellarabi was given a red card for the careless challenge, but the damage was done. Rafinha, Bayern’s versatile veteran, had to be helped off the field and could not put much weight on his injured leg.

David Alaba came on for the Bavarians to replace Rafinha and finish out the game as Leverkusen battles with 10 men. As he nearly always does, Rafinha was in the process of putting in a very solid effort with his steady play at left back. Any long-term injury to Rafinha would present depth issues at the position for Die Roten.

As James Rodriguez headed Bayern to a 3-1 lead, this was the worst possible result for Bayer Leverkusen coach Heiko Herrlich, who was already under immense pressure from the media.