Frankfurt's Mahdavikia to miss Hamburger SV match with back problems

IRNA - Mehdi Mahdavikia will be sidelined with a back injury for Eintracht Frankfurt's encounter at SV on Sunday, the online site of the kicker sports magazine reported Saturday.

The Iranian national team captain was initially set to replace Eintracht defender Patrick Ochs who will have to sit out the match in Hamburg because of his fifth yellow card.

Hampered by a string of injuries and woeful performances during the season, Mahdavikia has yet to fulfill Frankfurt's high expectations when they signed him to a three-year contract last summer.

One of the surprise teams of this Bundesliga season, Frankfurt is presently ranked 7th with 32 points out of 21 Bundesliga games.