Long break looms

Bad injury overshadows Dortmund match

Nico Schlotterbeck suffered a serious injury against Barcelona.(Bild: APA/AFP/INA FASSBENDER)

Borussia Dortmund suffered a bitter 3:2 defeat against Barcelona on Wednesday - and in the end a suspected serious injury to defender Nico Schlotterbeck shocked players and fans alike. "The pictures are terrible. You have to wait and see, you have to endure this moment of shock. It will be difficult, a sleepless night. But you have to see how it develops," said BVB coach Nuri Sahin.

In the last action of the game in stoppage time, a free-kick cross from Groß sailed into the penalty area and Schlotterbeck headed just over the goal. As he hit the turf, the German international twisted his ankle badly and doubled over in pain. He was taken to hospital for further examinations.

(Bild: APA/AFP/INA FASSBENDER)

(Bild: APA/AFP/INA FASSBENDER)

(Bild: APA/AFP)

"He was screaming in pain"
The defender was treated for several minutes and taken off the pitch on a stretcher. "He was screaming in pain," said his team-mate Marcel Sabitzer in a Sky interview after the match.

Sahin: "Super-GAU, terrible pictures"
"I don't have a diagnosis yet. Of course he's depressed. It would be the worst-case scenario if he were to be ruled out," said coach Nuri Sahin on DAZN. Could Schlotterbeck play again before Christmas? "If you look at the pictures, no. But I'm waiting for the diagnosis. It doesn't look too good."

Sahin was even clearer at the press conference: "The pictures are terrible. You have to wait and see, endure this moment of shock. It will be difficult, a sleepless night. But you have to see how it develops."

It was only on Tuesday that the BVB coach announced that defender Niklas Süle would be out for months. "He will be out for a few months, unfortunately he has a serious injury," said Sahin at the press conference ahead of the Barca game.

Dortmund will play against TSG Hoffenheim on Sunday - with concerns in the back line.