Borussia Dortmund Defender Niklas Süle Out Two Months With Calf Injury

Borussia Dortmund defender Niklas Süle will be sidelined for approximately two months due to a calf muscle injury sustained during a pre-season friendly against Juventus. Süle was substituted on for Mats Hummels early in the match but had to leave the field before halftime after suffering the injury without contact from another player. This injury will cause Süle to miss Dortmund's upcoming German Cup first-round match against Rot-Weiss Essen and the first five Bundesliga games of the season, including matches against St. Pauli, Union Berlin, and Wolfsburg. Dortmund’s defensive concerns are heightened as they are also without Nico Schlotterbeck and Emre Can due to injury. The club, which finished fourth last season, will also compete in the Champions League this year, making Süle's absence a significant setback for coach Niko Kovac. Süle's injury may also impact his availability for key Bundesliga fixtures later in the season, including matches against RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich.