Defensive worries for Dortmund: two more stars miss Atalanta showdown | OneFootball

Before the important Champions League playoff first leg against Atalanta Bergamo, Borussia Dortmund has to cope with the next setback. Nico Schlotterbeck and Niklas Süle, two more central defenders, are out.

The personnel situation for Borussia Dortmund is dramatically intensifying before the UEFA Champions League playoff first leg. In the home game against Atalanta Bergamo (Tuesday, 9 PM), BVB will have to do without two more central defenders, going into the crucial duel for a good starting position significantly weakened.

As the club officially announced, Nico Schlotterbeck and Niklas Süle are definitely out. Schlotterbeck was unable to participate in the final training due to muscular problems, and the issues are so severe that playing against the Bergamaschi is out of the question. Whether he will be available for the Bundesliga match against Leipzig next weekend is still uncertain.

Süle was affected during the recent 4-0 victory against Mainz 05. The central defender, recently a regular starter, sustained a thigh injury. A precise diagnosis is expected soon, but it is already clear: he will not be available for the Champions League duel. How long he will have to pause is still unclear, and further examinations might be necessary.

BVB Stars Schlotterbeck and Süle Missing Against Atalanta

This significantly exacerbates the personnel shortage in the central defense. With Emre Can and Filippo Mané still unavailable, coach Niko Kovac has only a few alternatives left. The remaining experienced forces for the central defense are Waldemar Anton and Ramy Bensebaini, so the starting lineup in defense almost selects itself. Additionally, the only 18-year-old Luca Reggiani might get a chance to play.

The double absence hits Dortmund at a delicate time. Although BVB has recently improved offensively and showed a hunger for goals in the clear win against Mainz, defensively they have not always been error-free despite overall decent performances – for example, in the two goals conceded against Heidenheim. Against the ambitious team from Bergamo, a stable defense will be crucial to secure a promising position for the second leg.

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