Borussia Dortmund is facing defensive injuries ahead of the Bundesliga opener. Nico Schlotterbeck and Ramy Bensebaini are sidelined while Fabio Silva demands more playing time.
What happened to Schlotterbeck and Bensebaini?
Nico Schlotterbeck suffered an inner ligament injury during the World Cup group stage against Ivory Coast. Despite the injury, he returned to the pitch after 15 minutes. The center-back is currently in BVB's reconstruction training.
Ramy Bensebaini collided with Anton during the Supercup match against Bayern Munich. He received a red card after fouling Bayern striker Ismail Saibari. After the match, he had to be hospitalized to check his injury. According to Bild, he sustained a rib contusion. Bensebaini is suspended for the DFB-Pokal match but available for the Bundesliga opener against Hamburger SV.
What does the defense look like for BVB?
The injuries to Schlotterbeck and Bensebaini are causing headaches for coach Edin Terzić. The defense is already weakened as Carney Chukwuemeka is also injured. The preseason has not been ideal for Dortmund, who lost 1:2 to Bayern Munich in the Supercup.
What does this mean for Fabio Silva?
Fabio Silva, who joined BVB from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer of 2025 for 22 million euros, wants a more prominent role. He scored Dortmund's only goal in the Supercup after coming on for Sébastien Haller. Silva said: "I want naturally more games from the start and to help the team. I want to be even more important."
What is the current situation for BVB?
Borussia Dortmund finished the last season in 2nd place in the Bundesliga with 73 points, 22 wins, 7 draws, and 5 losses. The team scored 70 goals and conceded 34, resulting in a goal difference of +36. The last loss was a 0:2 against Werder Bremen on May 16, 2026. The next match is against SC Paderborn 07 on September 12, 2026.
The defensive injuries could complicate the preseason, but the team has time to recover before the Bundesliga season starts. Fans can track current injuries on the injuries page.
