Sandro Schwarz Excludes Ailing Balogun from Mainz’s Encounter with Dortmund

FSV Mainz manager, Sandro Schwarz, has officially ruled out the participation of Nigerian defender, Leon Balogun, in the upcoming Bundesliga clash against Borussia Dortmund this Saturday. Balogun, 29, has been sidelined due to a rib injury, forcing him to miss Mainz’s last two league encounters against Augsburg and Leipzig. The last time Balogun graced the pitch was during Mainz’s commanding 2-0 victory over Freiburg at the OPEL Arena on April 16.

Providing insights into the injury concerns surrounding key players, Schwarz remarked during a pre-match conference, “Leon Balogun can only participate in part of the team training. Danny Latza is not yet fit, Suat Serdar is expected to return today, and Emil Berggreen is not yet ready.”

The club echoed Schwarz’s sentiments on social media, as Mainz’s official Twitter handle posted an injury update on the esteemed center-back. “@LeonBalogun has not been able to fully train,” read the tweet, shedding light on the ongoing challenges Balogun faces in his recovery.

Having made a commendable 14 league appearances for Mainz this season, Balogun’s absence is undoubtedly a setback for the team. As Mainz readies itself for the high-stakes clash against Dortmund, the absence of the seasoned defender will undoubtedly pose a challenge for the squad. Schwarz and his coaching staff are now tasked with formulating a strategy to navigate the formidable Dortmund side without the defensive prowess of Balogun.