German Cup: Bayer Leverkusen skipper Lars Bender out for three weeks after suffering torn groin in Werder Bremen win

Berlin: Bayer Leverkusen suffered a blow on Wednesday as their captain Lars Bender is expected to be sidelined for the next three weeks with a groin injury. [caption id=“attachment_4341297” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File photo of Lars Bender. AFP[/caption] The Germany defender limped out of Tuesday’s 4-2 German Cup win at home to Werder Bremen and a scan has revealed a torn groin. Leverkusen are second only to runaway leaders Bayern Munich in Germany’s top flight after losing just once in their last 19 games in all competitions. The 28-year-old, who made the last of his 19 appearances for Germany in 2014, has played in 15 of Leverkusen’s 21 league games this season. The right-back has been the cornerstone of Leverkusen’s defence. At the end of January, Bender extended his Leverkusen contract until 2021 but is now set to miss their forth-coming league games against Hertha Berlin, Hamburg and Schalke 04.