Schalke may have lost Salif Sane to a serious injury

FC Schalke 04 took on FC Augsburg on Matchday 10, and they may have lost Salif Sane to a serious injury early in the match.

Salif Sane is one of the best center backs in the Bundesliga and should be on the radar of top clubs around the world. A leader at the heart of FC Schalke 04’s defense, the Senegal international suffered a non-contact knee injury that may be serious.

Schalke fans witnessed Sane go down early in the match, and he lay on the pitch for a good couple of minutes before needing to be stretched off. The mood in the WWK Arena was somber as Sane was taken off the pitch – even the Augsburg supporters knew this was a difficult moment. And Schalke did not look the same in the first half after the injury to one of their most important players.

If this is a serious knee injury to Sane, then it’s a devastating blow to Schalke’s defense. Not only is Sane one of the team’s best players and one of Europe’s best center backs, but the Royal Blues are already missing another star center back and leader on defense in Benjamin Stambouli.

Keep a close eye out for updates related to Sane’s injury, because this could be a big loss for Schalke in their race for a Champions League position – or even the Bundesliga title. Stambouli is already out until potentially 2020 with a broken bone in his foot, so a lengthy absence for Sane could stretch Schalke’s defense.

The good thing is that Schalke have one of the most talented young center backs in Ozan Kabak, who received a start against Augsburg after Stambouli’s injury. Matija Nastasic is also a great defender, but, like Stambouli and now Sane, he’s injured and was not even in the squad against Augsburg.

Juan Miranda is another defender suffering from an injury, as the Barcelona loanee at left back was also not in the squad on Matchday 10.

Sane’s injury could be the toughest blow of them all, though, so Bundesliga fans will be praying for the standout player’s health.