Injury in defeat against Barcelona
After the horror scene: the BVB star is diagnosed
Updated 12/12/2024 – 1:44 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Nico Schlotterbeck’s injury overshadowed BVB’s defeat against FC Barcelona. An initial finding has now been made.
There were anxious moments in Signal Iduna Park on Wednesday evening: In the final scene of the Champions League game against FC Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck was accidentally twisted when landing after a header, his right foot was 90 degrees inward. The BVB defender had to be treated for minutes and was then carried off the pitch. He later had his foot heavily bandaged and wore a sneaker to stabilize it.
But one thing is now certain: the central defender will apparently not be missing from Borussia Dortmund for as long as feared. BVB announced on Thursday that the national player had suffered an unspecified “ligament injury” in his ankle. “It is currently questionable whether he will still be available to BVB this year,” it said.
Sky reporter Patrik Berger further reported that fears that Schlotterbeck could have suffered a torn syndesmotic ligament or even a fracture had not been confirmed. On the contrary, people in Dortmund are even hoping that Schlotterbeck can be used again this year. The 25-year-old should be completely fit to play again in January.
Schlotterbeck is actually doubly indispensable in Dortmund’s central defense. On the one hand because of strong performances and a clear claim to leadership – on the other hand because BVB is already very worried about its position. Niklas Süle will be out for months with a serious syndesmosis injury, Waldemar Anton (torn muscle fiber) is also injured and will also miss the league game against TSG Hoffenheim on Sunday (from 5:30 p.m. in the live ticker on t-online).
This leaves BVB with six Emre Can, who helped out in central defense against Barcelona, and young man Yannik Lührs. The 21-year-old recently made his Bundesliga debut. The club could buy a player in the winter. But there are still two games before that, coach Nuri Şahin said: “They won’t open the transfer window for us earlier.”