BORUSSIA DORTMUND’S slim title hopes have taken a further hit after Erling Haaland limped off with a potential knee injury during Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich.
Dortmund were looking for a win on home soil to put themselves within one point of the current Bundesliga champions.
However, Joshua Kimmich’s outrageous chip saw the visitors emerge victorious.
Bayern are now seven points clear of second-place Dortmund and on course for their EIGHTH successive title.
But should there be any chance for Dortmund to close the gap in the final six games, they may have to do it without top scorer Haaland.
The 19-year-old linked up with Lucien Favre’s side in January after scoring 28 goals in just 22 games at RB Salzburg.
Haaland’s fine form has continued with 13 goals in 14 games for his new side.
But he was unable to hit the target in Tuesday’s crucial league match.
And Dortmund are now sweating over Haaland’s availability after he was forced off the field in the 72nd minute, clutching his right knee following a fierce sprint into Bayern’s penalty area.
Dortmund have no recognised second striker in their squad and were forced to bring on American teenager winger Giovanni Reyna in Haaland’s place.
Should the Norwegian be ruled out for a certain length of time, Dortmund could instead find themselves battling to qualify for next season’s Champions League instead.
RB Leipzig, Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach are also in the running for a top four finish and could look to take advantage of Haaland’s absence by consigning Dortmund to fifth in the table by the final day.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
