Dortmund dealt Subotić blow
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
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Neven Subotić is expected to miss at least the first leg of Borussia Dortmund's round of 16 tie against FC Shakhtar Donetsk after the defender succumbed to a calf injury.
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Borussia Dortmund's Neven Subotić faces a six-week lay-off, ruling the central defender out of at least the first leg of the German title holders' UEFA Champions League showdown with FC Shakhtar Donetsk.
The 24-year-old Serbian international is expected to miss the first leg of the round of 16 tie, in Donetsk on 13 February, after picking up an injury on Saturday during Dortmund's Spanish training camp at La Manga. Subotić was injured in training but the calf tear is worse than first anticipated, and today's prognosis following an MRI scan puts him at risk of sitting out the return match against Shakhtar on 5 March too.
The setback for Jürgen Klopp's team – UEFA Champions League Group D winners and third in the Bundesliga at the winter break – comes 24 hours after the news that Subotić had extended his contract until 2016. Since arriving from 1. FSV Mainz 05 in 2008, the centre-back has made 138 top-flight appearances for Dortmund, scoring 12 goals.
