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Almost half an hour had been played when he went down on Saturday evening - without outside interference.
Axel Witsel, it seemed, had got stuck in the lawn.
He held his left ankle and gave a sign that he couldn't go any further.
On Sunday, the day after Borussia Dortmund's 3-1 (0-0) at RB Leipzig, his employer announced on the club's website in the afternoon: “Very bitter news after the sovereign 3-1 win on Saturday in Leipzig: Borussia Dortmund will have to do without Axel Witsel in the coming months. "
The Belgian nation player, the Dortmund team announced, has "torn his Achilles tendon".
This was the result of the investigation in the Dortmund Clinic Westphalia.
He is unlikely to return to the field this season, and participation in the European Championship with Belgium is questionable.
Witsel had to be supported
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The 31-year-old, for whom Emre Can came into play on Saturday, was supported by two BVB supervisors when he left the field.
Immediately after the game he flew back to Dortmund with the team.
How long the midfielder will be out is open.
But it is quite possible that he will not be used again this season.
Witsel has been playing for BVB since August 2018.
He came to Borussia from China from Tianjin Quanjian.