Marcel Schmelzer ruled out for six weeks, will miss Spurs match

Bengaluru, September 11: Borussia Dortmund captain Marcel Schmelzer will miss Wednesday's (September 13) Champions League clash against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley after the German footballer tore his ankle ligaments, the German club confirmed.

Freiburg winger Yoric Ravet made a lunging tackle on Schmelzer and was initially shown a yellow card by the on-pitch referee but was sent off shortly afterwards after consultation with the Video Assistant Referee.

However, after the tackle, the left back was soon seen rolling on the field with pain just before the half-hour mark and later a scan on Sunday (September 10) revealed the aftermath of the injury which suggested that the defender will be sidelined up to six weeks for recovery.

"I knew straight away that I wouldn't be able to continue," said Schmelzer before the diagnosis.

"I don't blame him (Ravet), he wanted to play the ball, that is legitimate and he apologised in the dressing room."

Schmelzer was making his first appearance of the season after he overcame an earlier ankle injury before the start of the season, however, will now miss Champions League matches against Tottenham and Real Madrid, as well as domestic fixtures including a home match against RB Leipzig.

Dortmund are currently in a injury crisis ahead of their Spurs match as defender Marc Bartra also was withdrawn after just 18 minutes with a groin problem in the same match.

The two first teamers will now join Raphael Guerreiro, Marco Reus, Andre Schurrle, Erik Durm and Sebastian Rode in the growing injury list as the Yellow and Black wall army head towards a busy schedule as they will play six games over just 17 days in the upcoming weeks.