Stuttgart defender Cristian Molinaro has been banned for three matches following his straight red card in last weekend's 2-2 draw with Bayer Leverkusen.

The 28-year-old was dismissed for a 90th-minute tackle on German international striker Andre Schurrle.

Molinaro will now miss Bundesliga matches against Hertha Berlin, Hannover and Freiburg, but is available for tonight's German Cup quarter-final with Bayern Munich.

The twice-capped Italian international moved to the Mercedes-Benz Arena from Juventus in 2010 for a fee in the region of €3.9m (£3.25m).