Huge boost for Barcelona as Borussia Dortmund lose key midfielder for both legs due to injury | OneFootball

With just weeks remaining before Barcelona take on Borussia Dortmund, in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals, the Catalans have received a major boost.

That is because Dortmund’s first-team star Marcel Sabitzer has picked up a fresh injury which may rule him out of the Barcelona clash.

Big miss for Dortmund?

As reported by SPORT1, Sabitzer has picked up a knee injury and will be out for six weeks. Such an injury means Sabitzer could miss both legs against Barcelona, which could serve as a major blow for Dortmund.

With 36 appearances in all competitions, Sabitzer is currently one of the most important midfielders for Dortmund.

The former RB Leipzig star offers a lot of aggression and versatility in the middle of the park. Not to mention, he has the knack for always showing up in crunch matches.

Marcel Sabitzer was injured against RB Leipzig. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

Sabitzer’s tactical flexibility and expertise in the second line of press could have made him an ideal weapon against Barcelona’s midfield.

To make things worse for Dortmund, the team lacks the presence of a proper alternative for Sabitzer.

While Pascal Gross can always offer creativity in the middle of the park, he lacks the flexibility and dynamism that Sabitzer provides. Not to mention, the former Ingolstadt midfielder has been quite hit-and-miss this season.

Even Julian Brandt has been far from consistent, meaning Dortmund could certainly rue the absence of someone like Sabitzer, who can easily break up play and initiate counter-attacks.

That said, Sabitzer was not the only threat Barcelona had to worry about. The club must be mindful about other star players including the Dortmund number nine Serhou Guirassy, who closely follows Barcelona matches.