Hamburger SV faces a mounting personnel crisis after losing both Fábio Vieira and Bilal Nadir to injuries during their 1–0 defeat against SC Paderborn, MOPO reported. The twin blows deepen a growing injury list at the club following a recent cruciate ligament tear suffered by captain Nicolai Remberg.
Early Exit for Fábio Vieira at Paderborn
The match turned quickly for the visitors when playmaker Fábio Vieira dropped to the turf in the 10th minute. After a nearly three-minute stoppage following a blocked shot, the 26-year-old immediately indicated he needed treatment, grasping his thigh, sitting on the grass, and holding his hands before his face before Otto Stange replaced him in the 13th minute, as noted by Sport1. Bild reported that Vieira departed the stadium with a heavily bandaged right thigh after doctor Wolfgang Schillings accompanied him from the pitch. Team staff quickly supplied him on the bench with a large ice pack wrapped around his affected leg following a summer transfer finalized on Deadline Day after weeks of hard-fought negotiations with Arsenal, where high expectations followed his previous stint as a convincing loanee.
Bilal Nadir Departs Late Before Relief from Staff
In the 68th minute, replacement midfielder Bilal Nadir also went down following a challenge with Paderborn’s Santiago Castañeda, Bild reported. The 22-year-old had to be supported off the field by medical staff and taken down the tunnel, unable to stand on his own before returning through the catacombs after the match to provide a mandatory doping control sample. While initial fears pointed to a significant setback, coach Merlin Polzin offered cautious relief after the final whistle, stating that Nadir was simply exhausted and showed signs of cramps after playing his heaviest stretch of minutes since March, MOPO reported.
Midfield Strain Tests Squad Depth Ahead of Frankfurt Fixtures
The double injury compounds an already difficult stretch for the squad, which is operating without several established contributors. Amid the absences, Albert Sambi Lokonga provided a minor boost by making his return in the final minutes following a recent absence against Stuttgart, while Polzin expressed hope that Torunarigha could return for Tuesday’s match, unlike Capaldo.
Upcoming Cup Fixture Poses Immediate Selection Hurdle
Hamburger SV must quickly regroup for an English week featuring a domestic cup match against Eintracht Frankfurt on Tuesday before facing the same opponent away in league play on Sunday. Midfielder Miro Muheim acknowledged the frustration of losing core personnel during a demanding schedule while emphasizing the team’s remaining quality. Medical staff plan to complete further scans on Sunday to determine the precise recovery timeline for Vieira, where a strain would mean a 10 to 14 day absence and a muscle fiber tear up to four weeks, while clarifying Nadir’s availability for the midweek cup tie.
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