Dortmund Loses 2 more Defenders ahead of Derby
Borussia Dortmund has lost two more defenders to injuries in a major blow before its Bundesliga showdown with Bayern Munich.
Mats Hummels and Marcel Schmelzer both have been ruled out of Saturday's match, meaning that three of Dortmund's regular defenders won't be available. Neven Subotic is out for the season with a knee injury.
Hummels, a central defender, twisted his right foot and damaged ligaments in his heel in Germany's 1-0 win over England on Tuesday. Schmelzer sustained a right-calf injury in the same game.
Hummels will miss the rest of the year while Schmelzer, a left back, will be sidelined for three weeks.
Bayern holds a four-point lead over Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga and Dortmund could see its title hopes all but vanish if it falls another three points behind.
Saturday's match in Dortmund is a replay of the Champions League final, won by Bayern in London.
Bayern is still undefeated in the Bundesliga, while Dortmund is coming off a 2-1 loss in Wolfsburg. Subotic, Hummels' partner in central defense, tore right-knee ligaments in that game.
Hummels played only 20 minutes against England after coming on at the start of the second half. Schmelzer played the first half.
On Friday, Hummels scored Germany's goal in a 1-1 draw in a friendly in Italy.
Hummels had been relegated to the bench in the last couple of World Cup qualifying games by Germany coach Joachim Low.
Bayern travels to Dortmund without midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, who is out long-term with an ankle injury. Winger Arjen Robben is likely to be available despite receiving a knock on his ankle while on international duty for the Netherlands.
The match also marks the return of midfielder Mario Gotze to Dortmund for the first time since he left his childhood team for Bayern at the start of the season.
Source: Associated Press
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