VfL Wolfsburg Faces Setback as Dzenan Pejcinovic Injured Ahead of Bundesliga Match

VfL Wolfsburg has announced the disappointing news that their star striker, Dzenan Pejcinovic, will be unavailable for this weekend’s Bundesliga match against 1. FC Heidenheim. Head coach Daniel Bauer confirmed during a pre-match press conference on Friday that Pejcinovic sustained a foot injury during Wednesday night’s league victory over St. Pauli. Despite the injury, the 20-year-old displayed remarkable determination by scoring the decisive goal in that match.

Coach Bauer subsequently confirmed Pejcinovic’s absence for the upcoming game, noting its significance. The Germany U21 international has been pivotal for the team, netting four of Wolfsburg’s last five goals in three Bundesliga matches. Notably, he is the only player from VfL to score from open play in the last three games, aside from Christen Eriksen, who scored from the penalty spot against St. Pauli. This comes at a time when the team has experienced a record number of own goals in the Bundesliga.

Pejcinovic’s impactful performance this season had been inconsistent until his breakout hat trick against SC Freiburg just before the winter break. Since then, he has scored in three consecutive matches, elevating his total to five goals in the Bundesliga after a slow start.

In light of Pejcinovic’s injury, Algerian international Mohamed Amoura is expected to step in as the leading scorer. Amoura, who was among the 11 Bundesliga players eliminated during the AFCON quarterfinals, played as a substitute in the St. Pauli match alongside Danish forward Adam Daghim.

Although Amoura is more effective as a left-sided attacker, his experience playing as a center forward during the AFCON makes him a strong candidate to fill the gap in Wolfsburg’s 4-2-3-1 formation. The 25-year-old has been impressive this season, scoring six goals and providing three assists in 15 league appearances.