Eintracht Frankfurt will have to play the remaining six matches without key man and Bundesliga top scorer Alex Meier after the 32-year old was ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.
Meier was not in the squad due to a knee complaint on Saturday as the Eagles went down 3-0 to Bayern München, who in the process became the first side to qualify for the UEFA Champions League next term.
"Tests in Basel revealed that Alex Meier's injury is more serious than first feared," read a statement on the club's official website.
"I'm very sad that I have to have an operation," Meier said. "It's a massive shame that I can't finish the season and help the team out anymore. I'll keep my fingers crossed for the lads and hope they can finish the season off successfully. For me the only thing that counts now is to recover as quickly as possible."
Meier will go under the knife tomorrow in Switzerland. Carrying out the procedure will be the same doctor who has operated on his knee three times previously.
BILD report that Meier has had to deal with the niggling injury all season long and had to continually take medication and get injections to ease the pain.
Meier currently sits on 19 Bundesliga goals, two ahead of Bayern's Arjen Robben who is also on the sidelines and three ahead of Bayern's Robert Lewandowski - who is now favourite to claim the Bundesliga top scorer crown this season.