Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich will be without four of their stars for Thursday night's first-leg UEFA Cup clash at Aberdeen in the competition's first knock-out round.

With 32 teams still left in the UEFA Cup, Bayern and Aberdeen face each other at Pittodrie before meeting in the second leg at Munich's Allianz Arena next week.

But Bayern will be missing midfielder Mark van Bommel who has a knee injury, as well as defender Daniel van Buyten and Willy Sagnol.

Belgian van Buyten is struggling with flu and Frenchman Sagnol has an injured knee.

The Bavarian side are set to be without French midfielder Franck Ribery for both legs.

It was already known that World Cup star Ribery, 24, would play no part in the first-leg clash at Pittodrie.

But a thigh injury sustained during Bayern Munich's Bundesliga clash with Hansa Rostock at the start of the month is now expected to keep the former Marseille player out for the rest of February.

With captain Oliver Kahn sitting out the trip to Scotland, reserve goalkeeper Michael Rensing may also miss out with a back injury, giving third-choice goalkeeper Bernd Dreher a chance.

But Germany defender Marcell Jansen is expected to make his first appearance since November having shaken off an ankle injury.

Aberdeen were humbled 5-1 at home by Celtic on Sunday, while Bayern were held to a 1-1 draw by second-placed Werder Bremen in front of their own fans on the same day.

Tom Williams / Eurosport