The victory over Hamburg was a hollow one. The three points were overshadowed by a single, sickening moment: the clumsy, reckless tackle that had sent Mateo crumpling to the turf. The collective gasp of the Westfalenstadion, the grim faces of the medical staff, the sight of their young star limping off the pitch – it was a scene that sent a shiver of fear through the heart of every Dortmund fan.
For Mateo, the initial shock and pain gave way to a cold, gnawing dread. He knew the feeling of a serious injury, the sickening crunch, the searing pain, the long, lonely road of rehabilitation. He had been there before, and the thought of going through it all again was almost too much to bear.
