Schalke confirm El-Faouzi nasal fracture and Gosens lacerations after horror head clash
Royal Blues reveal extent of double injury blow
Schalke 04 have confirmed the full extent of the injuries suffered by Soufiane El-Faouzi and Robin Gosens in Saturday's bruising goalless draw with 1. FC Köln, with both players now facing an anxious wait over their availability for Wednesday's DFB-Pokal meeting with Dynamo Dresden.
Following thorough examinations at a Gelsenkirchen hospital on Sunday afternoon, the Bundesliga club announced that El-Faouzi sustained a nasal bone fracture as well as a laceration on his forehead. Gosens, who was caught up in the same collision, suffered two lacerations on his forehead, each of which was closed with several stitches.
No timetable set for either player's return
Schalke stated in their declaration that a decision on the pair's return would be made "at the appropriate time" — a notably cautious line from the club given the nature of the head injuries involved.
The incident occurred in the 38th minute at the RheinEnergieStadion, when El-Faouzi and Gosens both jumped for the same header and collided heads. Both men were bleeding heavily and had to be substituted, although each was able to leave the pitch on their own. Crucially, both players remained responsive throughout.
Köln stalemate leaves Schalke nursing a depleted squad
The collision overshadowed a cagey 0-0 draw that leaves Schalke managing both a result and a medical list. In that same fixture, Köln had earlier seen a first-half goal from Ísak Jóhannesson ruled out for offside after Saïd El Mala had forced a save from Loris Karius, with the flag up before the follow-up was converted. The hosts continued to probe, El Mala dragging another effort wide and lifting a further chance over the bar.
The German club's injury concerns in the air are not new. It was reported on 18 October 2026 that Edin Džeko needed stitches after sustaining a deep head cut in an aerial collision with a Mainz defender at the Veltins-Arena, leaving his availability for the Köln fixture uncertain.
What it means for Wednesday
With the DFB-Pokal clash against Dynamo Dresden now just days away, Schalke face the prospect of being without two first-team regulars. Gosens had featured in all seven of Schalke's Bundesliga matches in the 2026-27 season, scoring once, according to a FotMob snapshot taken after Saturday's draw.
The club has given no indication of when either player might be cleared to train, meaning any decision on Wednesday's squad will rest on further assessment — with the emphasis firmly on the players' wellbeing rather than the speed of their return.