Borussia Dortmund fear key centre-back could be out for the rest of the year

Borussia Dortmund look set to be without Waldemar Anton for the rest of the year after the centre-back picked up a muscle injury against Bayern Munich on Saturday.

Waldemar Anton sustained a thigh injury and had to be subbed off in the first-half of Saturday's Der Klassiker. While Borussia Dortmund have yet to give an official diagnosis on his injury, multiple reports in Germany are claiming that the Germany international is unlikely to be able to play again this year.

According to BILD, Anton sustained a muscle fibre tear and Borussia Dortmund are expecting him to be sidelined for at least three to four weeks.

Borussia Dortmund defender Waldemar Anton faces spell on the sidelines

With the winter break starting on December 23 for BVB, Anton is unlikely to be able to play in the team's remaining four games of the year.

Borussia Dortmund have some tricky games coming up before the winter break. The Black and Yellows will travel to Borussia Mönchengladbach this weekend before hosting FC Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League. Nuri Sahin's side will conclude their 2024 with games against TSG Hoffenheim and VfL Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga.

With Waldemar Anton sidelined, the fit-again Niklas Süle will likely partner Nico Schlotterbeck at centre-back in the coming matches. The former Bayern defender returned to action this past weekend as he came off the bench to replace Anton. He will now hope to deliver strong performances in the coming weeks and stake a claim for a regular starting spot.

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Other possible options at centre-back for Borussia Dortmund could include Emre Can and U-23s defender Yannik Lührs.