Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac has confirmed that Ramy Bensebaini is not going to make it for their visit to Borussia Park on Sunday when they face Borussia Monchengladbach.
Signed from the Foals in 2023, the Algerian international picked up an injury during the Freiburg clash last weekend an reportedly hasn't returned to training yet.
The defender is hence likely to miss out on a return to his old stomping ground this weekend where he spent four years.
Dortmund will certainly have their task cut out without the talisman, whose been an instrumental figure in their backline while also posing an occasional attacking threat.
Kovac has named Luca Reggiani and Filippo Mane as his first-choice alternatives as the young guns now battle it out for a starting berth on Sunday.
Reggiani is a highly-rated teenager who joined Dortmund's youth setup in 2024 before going on to make a few appearances for their reserve side.
He finally made his senior debut for the BVB on 7 February this year, coming off the bench in the dying embers of their clash with Wolfsburg.
A centre-back by trade, Reggiani also bagged his first goal for Dortmund on 14 March in their 2-0 win over Augsburg, making him the youngest Italian to score in the Bundesliga as the youngster continues to prove his value to the side.
By contrast, Mane has spent much of the last few months on the sidelines. Given his lack of gametime, Kovac would be wise to go with Reggiani here.
The manager also gave a positive update on Yan Couto and Jobe Bellingham, who missed their training on Wednesday and Thursday due to illness, saying they are likely to be fit for Sunday.
Regarding Felix Nmecha, he said:
"“Felix is on the mend, but he hasn’t trained with the team yet either.”"added the Croatian
The 25-year-old sustained a knee ligament injury in March 2026 while playing against Hamburger that has kept him out ever since. He'd be hoping to return for their last two league games of the season.
Skipper Emre Can has long been ruled out for the remainder of the season with an ACL injury whereas Niklas Sule, who is set to depart Dortmund this summer, is unavailable due to a minor knee injury.
Samuele Inacio could be given another start following a promising debut last weekend against Freiburg, operating alongside Julian Brandt behind lone striker Serhiu Guirassy.
Probable Dortmund starting XI: Gregor Kobel; Luca Reggiani, Waldemar Anton, Nico Schlotterbeck; Julian Ryerson, Marcel Sabitzer, Jobe Bellingham, Daniel Svensson; Julian Brandt, Samuele Inacio, Serhou Guirassy.
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