Borussia Dortmund faces a setback as defender Niklas Sule is set to miss approximately two months due to a calf muscle injury. The injury occurred during Dortmund's recent pre-season friendly against Juventus, where Sule had to be substituted.
The club confirmed the unfortunate news, indicating that Sule sustained the injury during the match against Juventus at the Westfalenstadion. Sule, who came on as a substitute for Mats Hummels, couldn't complete the game, leading to concerns about his fitness.
The estimated recovery period of two months means that the 29-year-old defender will be unavailable for the start of Dortmund's competitive season. Sule, a key member of Dortmund's defense, made 21 appearances across all competitions last season, contributing to the team's fourth-place finish in the Bundesliga.
His absence will be felt in the defensive lineup, as evidenced by his contributions last season, where he ranked among Dortmund's top defenders in terms of clearances. Only Ramy Bensebaini, Nico Schlotterbeck, and Waldemar Anton had more clearances than Sule.
Dortmund is scheduled to begin their domestic campaign with a DFB-Pokal match against Rot-Weiss Essen, followed by their Bundesliga opener against St. Pauli. The team will have to navigate these early fixtures without Sule's presence in the backline.
The club and fans will be hoping for a swift recovery for Sule, as his experience and defensive capabilities will be crucial as they progress through the season.
