Mario Goetze could play for Borussia Dortmund in the German Cup on Wednesday despite being diagnosed with a broken bone in his arm.
The Bundesliga club said Tuesday that medical staff confirmed “a hairline fracture in his forearm and a ligament strain in his wrist,” from an injury sustained during Saturday’s goalless draw at local rivals Schalke.
However, 2014 World Cup winner Goetze “may nonetheless be able to make an appearance” against Borussia Moenchengladbach in the German Cup second round, Dortmund said.
Forward Paco Alcacer and full back Marcel Schmelzer remain out but coach Lucien Favre said goalkeeper Roman Buerki “is feeling better,” after flu, “but we still have to wait on his progress.”
Dortmund has been inconsistent this season but did defeat Bundesliga leaders 1-0 in their last home game.
“We need to take full advantage of the home environment and play with complete concentration,” said sporting director Michael Zorc. “You can’t afford to make big mistakes in knockout matches.”
Gladbach is missing a handful of players for the tie including defender Matthias Ginter, midfielder Breel Embolo and forwards Raffael and Alassane Plea.
“We lost 1-0 but we didn’t play badly,” coach Marco Rose said of their October 19 defeat in Dortmund. “In the match tomorrow we need to believe that we can win right up until the final whistle.”
Favre, a former Gladbach boss, is coming under pressure with Dortmund fifth. The Swiss, however, said he “does not have much time” to worry about his job security and was also backed by Gladbach sporting director Max Eberl.
“Lucien Favre did a fantastic job in his four-and-a-half years here,” he said. “He’s also done well at his other clubs. I know how many qualities Lucien has, and I think Dortmund know that as well.”
