Schalke confirm defender suffers season-ending ACL tear

As FC Schalke 04 announced on Sunday evening, Henning Matriciani has suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

The unfortunate incident happened during Saturday's friendly against German third-division side VfL Osnabrück.

It has since been confirmed that the 25-year-old will undergo surgery on the affected area to correct the injury next week.

Youri Mulder, the Gelsenkirchen club's director of professional football, was left equally dismayed by the full-back's misfortune:

“This is very bitter news. Henning has given his all for the team in every training session and in his appearance against Elversberg over the past few months”.

Matriciani – whose contract expires at the end of the season – has only been used for twelve minutes by coach Miron Muslic thus far.