Only one young player remains: flu epidemic shocks BVB, only one central defender remains

Only one young player remains
Flu epidemic shocks BVB, only one central defender left

January 10, 2025, 3:53 p.m

Apparently a short-term and acute personnel shortage has broken out at Borussia Dortmund. A few hours before the Bundesliga restart against champions Leverkusen, the flu epidemic has spread at BVB and there is only one central defender available in a youth player.

According to consistent media reports, Borussia Dortmund is starting the new year with significant personnel concerns. According to the “Ruhr Nachrichten”, BVB has the first competitive game of the year in the evening against double winners Bayer Leverkusen (8.30 p.m./DAZN, Sat.1 and in the live ticker on ntv.de) caught a flu epidemic. Accordingly, coach Nuri Sahin would only have one trained central defender available in the squad, young player Yannik Lührs.

The defensive players Nico Schlotterbeck, Ramy Bensebaini, Waldemar Anton and captain Emre Can, however, did not travel to the team hotel before the game at lunchtime. According to information from Sky, only the failure of Bensebaini and Anton is certain so far. Niklas Süle (injured) and Pascal Groß (suspended) are definitely missing.

Will BVB make it to third place?

Dortmund had been plagued by serious injury problems throughout the first half of the season. For BVB, who played in the premier class final against Real Madrid in the summer, the Bundesliga season has so far gone anything but according to plan. Dortmund are only sixth in the table after 15 games and are already eleven points behind league leaders FC Bayern Munich. Leverkusen is the first pursuer of the star ensemble from the south. With a win in Dortmund, coach Xabi Alonso’s team can move within one point of Munich, at least until Saturday evening.

For Dortmund, a three points would mean third place, at least temporarily. The team and coach are under corresponding pressure. Re-qualifying the Champions League is BVB’s minimum goal.

Dortmund coach Sahin and Leverkusen’s master coach Alonso have known each other for a long time. The two played together at Real Madrid in the 2011/12 season. “I’m happy that we see each other again,” said Alonso. “I wish him the best.” Of course, this does not apply to the direct meeting between Bayer 04 and BVB.