Dortmund midfielder Mkhitaryan out for 6 weeks

DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Borussia Dortmund midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been ruled out for six weeks with a muscle tear in his right thigh.

The Armenian playmaker suffered the injury after 33 minutes of Saturday's 1-0 loss at Hertha Berlin, a defeat that leaves his side in the relegation zone with two games left before the winter break.

Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp says, "He felt a tweak, which isn't good in a three-game week."

The club says on its website that a medical examination Sunday morning confirmed the extent of the injury.

Dortmund, the 2011 and 2012 champion, next faces tough games against Wolfsburg and Werder Bremen.