Advantage for Dortmund? Köln star to miss the big match | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund could benefit from a significant absence in the opponent's lineup during the top match against 1. FC Köln. Köln's offensive player Jan Thielmann will be out for several weeks due to a muscle injury.

Bad news for 1. FC Köln just before the challenging English week: Offensive player Jan Thielmann is temporarily out with a muscle injury. The 23-year-old injured himself during training on Wednesday and had to cut the session short. The club has not yet specified the exact duration of his absence, but according to the MRI diagnosis, Thielmann will be out for several weeks.

Thus, coach Lukas Kwasniok will have to do without his stalwart not only on Saturday (6:30 PM) in the away game in Dortmund but also in the DFB-Pokal duel against FC Bayern (Wednesday, 8:45 PM). The subsequent matches against HSV (November 2) and in Gladbach (November 8) are also in doubt for Thielmann.

The absence is a big blow for FC: Thielmann was in the starting lineup for all seven league games so far, scoring two goals and assisting another. Under Kwasniok, the native of Cologne had become a real key figure in the offense.

BVB reportedly interested in Köln's gem El Mala

Now the coach is forced to reorganize his attacking line. Alternatives include Marius Bülter and Said El Mala. Bülter recently made his comeback after Achilles tendon problems and brings a lot of experience and tactical stability. The newly minted father can be deployed both on the left and centrally.

For rising star El Mala, who is reportedly also of interest to BVB, his speed, one-on-one skills, and finishing strength are in his favor – ideal conditions for a counter-attacking game. The 19-year-old recently scored as a substitute in the 1-1 draw against Augsburg, recommending himself for greater challenges.

Despite the personnel concerns, Bülter remains combative: "It's about making as few mistakes as possible and playing disciplined. And then we should give 110 percent, wanting to win every ball and every duel. Then we have enough quality to score goals against Dortmund."

Whether this will succeed without the in-form Jan Thielmann remains to be seen – but BVB will certainly not be displeased to hear of Köln's setback.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.