Henrikh Mkhitaryan misses Borussia Dortmund trip to Azerbaijan

Dortmund face Azerbaijani club Gabala on Thursday, but have left the Armenian midfielder in Germany because of an ongoing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

The region, along with some adjacent territory, has been under the occupation of Armenian soldiers and local ethnic Armenian forces since a 1994 ceasefire ended a six-year war.

Violence has nevertheless broken out sporadically since.

"It's a conflict situation between two countries. This can happen. We have taken the decision together. Had it been the semifinal, we would have maybe decided differently," Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke told reporters on Wednesday.

"We've talked to the player again, and it's the best decision for all involved. There's a bit of discomfort. Henrikh's not upset to stay behind."