Bayer Leverkusen will be without new defender Guéla Doué for several weeks. The 23-year-old Ivorian international suffered a muscle injury in his right calf during the final training session on Tuesday, the club confirmed.
An MRI scan confirmed the diagnosis just hours before the Europa League opener against NK Celje on Wednesday evening. "The Ivorian World Cup participant suffered a muscle injury in his right calf during the final training session on Tuesday," the club said in its official announcement. Doué was signed from Racing Strasbourg for a fee of 30 million euros on the final day of the transfer window. He made his Bundesliga debut as a 63rd-minute substitute in the 2-2 draw against Augsburg.
For the match against Celje, 35-year-old Lucas Vázquez will start in his place. Youngster Ibrahim Maza is also absent from the squad due to a cold. The Werkself line-up is Flekken, Vázquez, Badé, Tapsoba, Medina, Andrich, Garcia, Diaby, Tillman, Terrier, Schick. Doué's absence is a blow to the defensive unit as Leverkusen sit seventh in the Bundesliga with four points from three games. Patrik Schick is the team's current top scorer with three goals in three appearances.
The next fixture comes quickly with a Bundesliga home match against fifth-placed RB Leipzig on Sunday. The full schedule is available on our fixtures page. Alongside Doué, Kennet Eichhorn, Montrell Culbreath, Nathan Tella and Ibrahim Maza are also currently sidelined.
Further reading: Bild Sport
