Borussia Dortmund qualified for the Champions League last-16 thanks to a 1-0 win over Sporting Lisbon, but starstriker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang proved to be the biggest story of the night despite not kicking a ball.
The Gabon international was mysteriously taken out of the squad before the game due to 'internal reasons,' according to manager Thomas Tuchel.
"It is an internal issue and will remain an internal issue," coach Thomas Tuchel said.
Suspended Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has decided to dress up as Inspector Gadget tonight 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/ujGwllAtIt
Tuchel refused to comment further on the matter. However, although fans expressed their utter bemusement on social media, it appears the matter is not serious enough to carry over onto the weekend, with the club's CEOHans-Joachim Watzke telling a German television programme that Aubameyang will return against Hamburg on Saturday.
"The internal reasons are exactly that, internal," Watzke said. "I will not say anything. But the good thing is he will be fresh against Hamburg. He will be back in the squad against Hamburg."
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang dropped by BvB ahead of their match with Sporting due to "internal affairs". pic.twitter.com/W0XLUPvK2Q
According to one reporter, Aubameyang and Tuchel had a falling out on Tuesday, with the coach telling the striker not to report to the club until Thursday, thus ruling him out of participating in the club's Champions League win over Sporting. The striker was spotted looking particularly forlorn in the stands during the game and reportedly left the stadium before the final whistle.
Aubameyang remains one of the hottest attacking properties in European football thanks to his astonishingly prolific run over the last three seasons. After striking 39 goals in 49 appearances last season, the lightning-quick 27-year-old has started this season in a similar fashion, with ten from his first 12 appearances. He was recently part of the 30-man shortlist for the 2016 FIFA Ballon d'Or.