Wolfsburg suffer Naldo blow

The 33-year-old Brazilian stopper suffered the injury in Wolfsburg's 2-0 defeat at home to Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich on Saturday and requires an operation, his club said on Sunday.

Wolfsburg, who sit eighth in the Bundesliga having won just one of their last 10 games, entertain Belgian side Gent in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on March 8 leading 3-2 from the first leg.

The loss of Naldo is a blow for a side looking to reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time.

Always a threat at a set-piece, the centre-back scored twice when Wolfsburg beat Manchester United 3-2 in December to finish as winners of their Champions League group and eliminate the English giants.  

"I felt pain straight away in my right shoulder and couldn't play on," said Naldo, who came off in the 76th minute after falling awkwardly while challenging for the ball against Bayern.

"Of course, I am very annoyed that I can't help the team in the important phase of the season."

Wolfsburg have already lost wing-back Sebastian Jung for the rest of the season with a knee injury, while they sold centre-back Timm Klose to Norwich City in January.

"Naldo was a first-choice player and one of our top performers, this is a big loss for us," Wolfsburg's sporting director Klaus Allofs told broadcaster Sport1.

"This is the sort of thing we really don't need right now."

Wolfsburg are at bottom side Hanover on Tuesday in the north German derby, then host Borussia Moenchengladbach next Saturday before facing Gent.

In the coming games, Brazil centre-back Dante will pair up with Robin Knoche, but the Wolves are light on centre-back options should either player get injured.