VfL Wolfsburg face Bayer Leverkusen with important fitness concerns: Adam Daghim is definitely out with back problems, while top scorer Mohammed Amoura returned early from Algeria duty with a minor muscle issue and is racing against time to be fit.
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The announcement from VfL Wolfsburg on Monday already caused concern among supporters.
What initially sounded like a routine medical update quickly took on more weight: Mohammed Amoura and Adam Daghim, the club reported, had both returned early from international duty, Amoura from the Algerian national team and Daghim from the Danish under 21 squad. For a team that relies heavily on pace and intensity in transition, losing two of its fastest forwards in the same international break is far from ideal.
The diagnosis was worrying in different ways. Amoura is dealing with muscular problems, the kind of issue that can be minor if handled correctly but also risky if rushed. In Daghim’s case, the situation is more serious. The young Dane is struggling with back issues that have been troubling him for some time, and they have now worsened to the point that head coach Daniel Bauer can speak with certainty about his absence. The Dane will miss Saturday’s match at 3:30 p.m. against league leaders Bayer Leverkusen, a match that will be broadcast live on kicker and that had already been circled as a major test for Wolfsburg.
Adam will be out, Bauer said on Tuesday after the morning training session. Hopefully not for too long, but he is definitely unavailable for the coming weekend. He has a back issue that we now need to treat. The coach reminded everyone that this did not come completely out of nowhere. Daghim already had problems in the last league game in Bremen, a 2–1 defeat, and he was not able to take part in Denmark’s first under 21 fixture during the international break. Instead of building rhythm with his national team, he is now back in Wolfsburg working with the medical staff.
His absence is not just a number on the squad list. In recent weeks, Daghim has developed into an important tempo setter in Wolfsburg’s attack, clocking a top speed of 35.79 km/h. His ability to press high, chase long balls into the channels and stretch defensive lines has given Bauer another dimension going forward. Without him, Wolfsburg lose one of their best weapons in quick transitions, an aspect of the game that is especially crucial when facing a side like Leverkusen that likes to dominate possession and commit numbers forward.
This makes the situation around Amoura even more delicate. The Algerian forward has reached 35.12 km/h and is not only one of the fastest players in the squad but also the top scorer. His movements in behind, his explosiveness over the first few meters and his aggressiveness in the penalty area are key components of Wolfsburg’s attacking plan. If he were also to miss the Leverkusen clash, Bauer’s options in the final third would suddenly look very thin.
So how is Amoura doing exactly. Here Bauer sounded more optimistic. Wolfsburg’s top scorer was able to play the first match for Algeria during the international break, staying on the pitch for the full ninety minutes in a 3–1 win over Zimbabwe. In that game he not only scored but also provided an assist, underlining once again how decisive he has become at both club and international level. However, after this match he felt a slight muscular reaction, enough for the Algerian staff and Wolfsburg to agree that it was safer to send him back early.
Mo had a very slight muscular reaction after his game, reported Bauer, who has stepped up from the under 19s following the dismissal of Paul Simonis. Thanks to his early return, Bauer added, the club was able to gain precious time and start an intensive treatment program in Wolfsburg. I hope he can already be back on the pitch on Thursday, the coach said, pointing to the next training sessions as a crucial step in deciding whether Amoura can start against Leverkusen or at least be an option from the bench.
The timing is tight. Hopefully Amoura will be able to train together with all the other returning internationals, because Bauer has only two full training days to prepare with the complete squad for this important home match. It is not much, especially against an opponent that is well drilled and has been playing together with a clear identity for a long period, but the coach sees one advantage. Some of them already know our basic approach and our principles, which makes it easier, said the forty three year old, who had already stepped in for the last two games of the previous season as a caretaker.
While the headlines focus on Amoura and Daghim, they are not the only players being closely monitored. Daghim is already ruled out, there is cautious optimism about Amoura, but what about the other doubtful names. Yannick Gerhardt and Lovro Majer, both of whom missed the match in Bremen, have returned to team training and are in line to be available again, which would give Bauer more experience and creativity in midfield. On the other hand, Bence Dardai, who is dealing with a knee problem, is still not training with the group and remains a question mark for the near future. Jesper Lindström, out with a groin injury, is also still waiting for his comeback. His return continues to be delayed and there is no firm date for his full reintegration into the squad.
All of this means that Wolfsburg head into the game against Bayer Leverkusen with several open situations. The medical department and the coaching staff are working against the clock to get as many key players as possible ready. The loss of Daghim is confirmed, the hope for Amoura is real but still dependent on how his body responds in the next sessions, and other important squad members are only just returning or still stuck in rehabilitation.
For Bauer, who is trying to stabilise results and implement his ideas in difficult circumstances, the international break has brought as many headaches as solutions. The match against Leverkusen will not only be a test of tactics and quality, but also of how well Wolfsburg can cope with adversity, manage their available resources and adapt to the physical condition of their most important attacking weapons.
