Rangers star Leon Balogun has ‘mixed feelings’ that injury will keep Erling Haaland from the second-leg of their Europa League tie with Borussia Dortmund, via the Glasgow Times.
BVB boss Marco Rose will again be without the Norwegian as he failed to overcome a long-standing adductor issue. Haaland has been on the sidelines for the Bundesliga giants since the end of January. But there were slim hopes he could feature after returning to training.
However, the 21-year-old was unable to ramp up his rehabilitation in time for the German side’s flight to Glasgow. So, Dortmund will have to make do without their leading striker at Ibrox, as they strive to overcome a 4-2 first-leg deficit in the knockout round play-off clash.
Haaland missed the Westfalenstadion clash last week as Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men claimed a shock win in North Rhine-Westphalia. Donyell Malen instead led Rose’s attack. But he has struggled to offer a regular end product since joining for £26m last summer.
Rangers star Balogun has ‘mixed feelings’ Haaland will miss Dortmund tie
Balogun has ‘mixed feelings’ that injury will see Haaland miss Borussia Dortmund’s Europa League trip to Rangers. The Gers defender looked forward to testing himself against the Leeds-born star who has scored 23 goals and provided six assists in 20 games this term.
But Balogun also sees the news as a boost for the Gers’ hopes of reaching the last 16. Yet he also accepts Rose has alternative stars like Malen and Marco Reus. The latter scored twice and laid on a further three to help thrash Borussia Monchengladbach 6-0 on Sunday.
“Yes and no,” Balogun said. “I think in this competition you want to compete against the best and he is one of the best at the moment. So, from that perspective, it is a sad thing.
“But if you look at what he means to Dortmund, then surely it is a disadvantage to them. It is going to weaken them. But then again, they have got enough to compensate. Not at the same level, probably. But mixed feelings. Definitely not going to complain about it though.”
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