1. FC Köln Faces Defensive Setbacks with Injuries to Key Players

omidbasir- 1. FC Köln, newly promoted to the Bundesliga, has suffered another setback with the loss of central defender Joël Schmied. An MRI conducted on Sunday revealed that Schmied has sustained a muscle tear, which will keep him sidelined for several weeks. He has been a crucial player for Köln, having participated in all 11 league matches this season and starting in nine of them.

This injury marks Schmied as the fourth center-back to be unavailable for die Geißböcke this season. Tim Hübers is already out for the long term, while fellow defender Luca Kilian may not return at all this campaign. Additionally, summer signing Rav van den Berg has been struggling with a shoulder injury and has not played since matchday three.

On a positive note, it appears that Köln’s head coach, Lukas Kwasniok, may soon have Van den Berg back in regular training after his recent participation with the Dutch U21 team.

Moreover, former Germany U21 captain Eric Martel, primarily a defensive midfielder, has successfully stepped in to bolster the defense. Veteran Dominique Heintz and Cenk Özkacar, a summer acquisition on loan from Valencia with limited playing time, are also potential options to address the team’s defensive needs.