Dan-Axel Zagadou Tears Muscle Fibre, Out for “Several Weeks”

According to Ruhr Nachrichten, Zagadou has been diagnosed with a torn muscle fibre and will be out for several weeks. Late in the first half during Borussia Dortmund’s disappointing 1-1 draw with FSV Mainz, Dan-Axel Zagadou was noticeably limping around the pitch when BVB coach Edin Terzic decided to replace him with Manuel Akanji before the half time whistle.

It has been a stop-start campaign so far for the young center-back, who was given a rare start for Die Schwarzgelben against the Carnevale club. Zagadou started the season injured and has just recently come back, seeing him restricted to eight appearances in all competitions, including six in the Bundesliga. Dortmund supporters seem united in wanting to see more of the towering defender, so this latest set back will no doubt hurt.

Depth is becoming a serious concern at a busy time for the Ruhr giants, with Mats Hummels and Manuel Akanji as the only other recognized senior center-backs. Zagadou now joins Axel Witsel, Marcel Schmelzer, and Thorgan Hazard on the injured list. Borussia Dortmund have two important matches on the horizon, with a Tuesday fixture at the BayArena against third-place Bayer Leverkusen before traveling Friday night to face Borussia Mönchengladbach at Borussia-Park. Akanji and Hummels will need to do all the heavy lifting if Dortmund are to win these games and stay in the title chase.