Eric Dier a doubt for Real Madrid showdown after being subbed with ‘knock’ that left him covered in blood
Eric Dier is a doubt for Bayern Munich's do-or-die Champions League semi-final clash with Real Madrid after suffering a horror head injury.
The England star was left bleeding from a cut on his head following an incredible goal-saving header in Bayern's 3-1 defeat to Stuttgart.
Dier has enjoyed a career resurgence since his shock loan move to the Bundesliga giants in January that ended his stay at Tottenham.
The 30-year-old starred as Bayern edged past Spurs' rivals Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals - but he's now a doubt for the club's second-leg semi away in Madrid.
Thomas Tuchel's lengthy injury list meant Dier was unable to be rested at Stuttgart just days before the vital trip to Spain.
Dier instantly showed his value with a dramatic first-half goal-line clearance to deny Serhou Guirassy the opening goal.
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However, the blow to the head came at a cost as it reopened a cut the defender had sustained earlier in the game.
Dier's forehead soon began gushing with blood and he heorically played on until the break wrapped in a Terry Butcher-esque bandage.
A penalty from his former Tottenham teammate Harry Kane sent Bayern into half-time level but Dier was forced off due to his injury.
Speaking following the game Tuchel told reporters: "Eric had to get stitches to the head wound that then opened up again so we at some point said it was enough. We did not want to risk it."
Dier was replaced for the second-half by Dayot Upamecano, with Bayern ultimately falling to a 3-1 defeat.
Tuchel added: "Dier felt a bit something in his thigh before the game, but that wasn’t the reason (he got subbed off) - it was due to the head knock. We couldn’t take any more risks with him.
"We then took a risk with Upa who wasn’t supposed to play for more than 30 minutes.
"This has unfortunately been the story of our season.”
Dier now faces a race against time to be included in Bayern's travelling squad to face Madrid, with the scores tied at 2-2.
The German outfit are already without defenders Sacha Boey, Gabriel Marusic, Bouna Sarr, and Tarek Buchmann.
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Matthijs De Ligt has been struggling with an injury of his own, while Raphael Guerreiro also sustained an ankle issue against Stuttgart.