Kiessling set for injury lay-off

Bayer 04 Leverkusen coach Jupp Heynckes was left ruing his "bad luck with injuries" after strikers Stefan Kiessling and Patrick Helmes picked up knocks in Sunday's goalless draw against 1. FC Nürnberg.

Kiessling lasted just 13 minutes against his former side before he was taken off on a stretcher with an ankle ligament problem. The 26-year-old's left leg is now in plaster, and although it is not known how long he will be out for the German international will almost certainly sit out next week's trip to Club Atlético de Madrid.

Leverkusen kicked off their UEFA Europa League campaign with a 4-0 victory over Rosenborg BK, with Helmes scoring a hat-trick. Helmes also failed to last the distance at Nürnberg as he departed midway through the second half with a thigh injury, though he should be back by the weekend.

"We have had some bad luck with injuries early on this season," said Heynckes, who is already without midfielders Michael Ballack (tibia) and Renato Augusto (calf). "We now have to find ways of coping."