Chelsea and Graham Potter have been dealt a major boost as it has emerged that first-leg goalscorer Karim Adeyemi will miss the trip to Stamford Bridge after suffering a muscle injury over the weekend.
Adeyemi gave Dortmund a 1-0 win at Signal Iduna Park somewhat against the run of play, running the length of the pitch from a Chelsea corner to grab the only goal of the game despite the Blues’ dominance.
It had to be Karim Adeyemi 👊#UCLGOTW | @Heineken pic.twitter.com/uLmz0ukSVO
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 17, 2023
It leaves Chelsea teetering on the edge of falling out of the Champions League at the last 16 stage, with Potter’s side now needing to score twice to head through, something that they have only managed once in the 11 games since the World Cup ended.
And, having lost 1-0 at home to Southampton and seemingly in freefall, they are up against the most in-form side in Germany when the two sides clash at the beginning of March.
However, Dortmund will have to make do without Adeyemi, who ‘tore a muscle fibre’ during his side’s 4-1 win over Hertha Berlin on Saturday after opening the scoring for his side.
Having to be substituted midway through the first half, Dortmund have since revealed that he will be sidelined for three weeks, ruling him out of the trip to west London.
Karim Adeyemi tore a muscle fiber during Sunday’s game against Hertha Berlin. He will not be available for about three weeks.
Get well soon, @karim_adeyemi! 🍀 pic.twitter.com/yDJq98KqAf
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) February 20, 2023
Having dominated the first leg, the English side will be desperate to make their play count and not fall at the first hurdle in Europe’s premier competition, something that would only heap yet more pressure on Graham Potter.
