Borussia Dortmund will have to do without Thomas Meunier at the start of the rest of the Bundesliga season. The right-back is out again.

Borussia Dortmund has had a pleasing preparation. The results from the two test matches are impressive: 5:1 against second-division team Fortuna Düsseldorf, 6:0 in the XL test against FC Basel. However, before the Bundesliga opener against FC Augsburg (22 January, 3.30 p.m.), coach Edin Terzic now has to deal with a setback in terms of personnel.

Thomas Meunier has torn a muscle fibre in training. The current sixth-placed team announced the news on Saturday. This means that the Belgian international is out again after overcoming a fractured cheekbone.

Meunier out, Haller to make BVB debut

The right-back was last used in mid-October on matchday 10 in the 2-0 defeat against Union Berlin and has been absent ever since. At the World Cup, the 31-year-old was able to return to the pitch for Belgium with a mask, but was unable to prevent the co-favourites’ early exit from the preliminary round.

It remains to be seen how long Meunier will be out. However, it is highly unlikely that he will play against Augsburg. The opposite is the case with Sebastien Haller. The striker, attacker who was diagnosed with a testicular tumour shortly after signing last summer, made his first appearance for BVB against Düsseldorf and scored his first goals against Basel.

In seven minutes, the Ivorian scored a hat-trick. The 28-year-old was physically fit during his two short appearances and increased his chances of at least being part of the Dortmund squad for the Bundesliga opener.