Oscar Zambrano injury leaves Maribor without key talent

NK Maribor will have to cope without one of their most promising players in the coming weeks after Óscar Zambrano suffered a thigh injury during the derby against Celje.

The 21-year-old midfielder, who scored in the high-profile clash, will now spend the next phase of the season on the treatment table and in the gym after damaging his hamstring. As a result, head coach Feđa Dudić must reorganise his side without a player who had begun to show his considerable potential.

Zambrano had only recently returned to competitive action following a lengthy suspension. While training can help rebuild rhythm, match intensity is a different challenge altogether. Maribor gradually reintegrated the Ecuadorian, handing him five appearances, during which he started to display the qualities that convinced the club to bring him in as a major reinforcement.

Derby goal followed by injury blow

The turning point came in the derby against Celje, where Zambrano found the net but was later forced off injured. Medical examinations confirmed that the problem is more serious than initially hoped.

“A good start, but a bad ending. Óscar Zambrano scored to give us the lead in the Styrian derby, but then had to leave the pitch early. Examinations confirmed our suspicions — a hamstring injury that will keep him out for several weeks,” Maribor said in a club statement.

A costly absence for Maribor

The setback represents a significant blow for Maribor. Zambrano currently has the highest market value in the squad, estimated at €1.5 million, and was signed with the expectation that he could become a central figure in the team’s midfield.

With a period of rest followed by a careful return-to-play programme now ahead of him, Maribor will have to navigate the coming fixtures without one of their key assets, just as he was beginning to make a decisive impact.