Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund have had a top turvy outing this season. Apart from the results, the Black and Yellow have lost their star striker, Erling Haaland, for more than a month. The 21-year-old has suffered a hip injury, confirmed by his father, Alf Inge Haaland.
Haaland has scored 13 goals in ten games this season for Dortmund but now they need to manage without their main man in attack for a few more weeks. He has been out of action since October 19 and Dortmund have done pretty well until they lost to Ajax in the Champions League. The Dutch outfit now have done a double over the German giants this season.
“He’s doing relatively well considering the situation, but he’ll be out for a little while,” Alf-Inge told TV 2 Norway of his son’s injury. “It would be a bonus if he gets some games before Christmas, but it’s rather unlikely.”
Dortmund have won all three matches in the Bundesliga since Haaland’s absence. But Ajax have been a thorn in their flesh and it is something that the manager Marco Rose should address. In the last defeat against Ajax, veteran defender Mats Hummels was sent off in a bizarre fashion within the first half-hour of the game.
Haaland’s injury and his time at the sidelines mean that the Black and Yellows will miss the remaining seven Bundesliga clashes remaining before the winter break.
Marco Rose’s men are in the second position in the Bundesliga points table, only a point behind reigning champions Bayern Munich. While their domestic form has been exceptional, Dortmund have struggled to get going in the Champions League this term. They have conceded seven goals against Ajax Amsterdam in two legs. The last match even saw Hummels get sent off and Dortmund take the lead through a penalty from Marco Reus. But still, they conceded thrice in the second half. Hence it is a concern though they are still second in their group a slip up against Sporting CP can turn the tables in no time.
For now, Marco Rose will have to find ways to win matches without his talisman. Haaland should return for their match against Eintracht Frankfurt on January 8.
