Karetsas Collapses During Champions League Opener: Dortmund in Shock
Borussia Dortmund are holding their breath over young attacker Karetsas after the teenager collapsed during the Champions League opener at Signal Iduna Park – with early indications pointing towards dehydration.
Shock in Dortmund as Karetsas collapses
The 18-year-old went down in the 23rd minute of the 3-2 win over the LaLiga side, without any contact and without warning. Seconds earlier, he had glided through midfield on a routine dribble and released a simple pass. Then came the raised arm, the clear call for help – and the sudden silence inside the stadium.
Paramedics sprinted onto the pitch as Karetsas lay on the turf. He was carried off to applause, visibly in tears, a chilling image on what should have been a triumphant European night.
According to Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws, doctors suspect the Greek attacker may have collapsed because he had not taken on enough water immediately before kick-off. Initial examinations at the hospital led medics to suspect dehydration as a possible cause.
By Wednesday lunchtime, Borussia Dortmund had still not released any detailed diagnosis. Official clarity is missing, and that only fuels the concern.
A club spokesman, asked by SID, limited himself to a short update: Karetsas was “doing well under the circumstances”. Nothing more, nothing less.
Sporting managing director Lars Ricken had earlier described the incident as sudden “circulatory problems”, underlining how quickly the situation escalated.
Dortmund sporting director Ole Book, speaking right after the final whistle, admitted the incident overshadowed the comeback win.
“I went out with him, but at that moment he was not directly able to speak. We naturally hope that things get better very, very quickly and that it is nothing serious,” Book said. “It came very suddenly. Of course, that really puts a significant damper on the mood.”
The goals, the points, the late drama – all of it felt secondary.
Injury crisis deepens for BVB
The question now hangs in the air: will BVB have to do without yet another key attacking talent?
Losing Karetsas for any extended spell would hit Dortmund hard. The club had already suffered a major blow when new signing Giannis Konstantelias tore his cruciate ligament on his very first Bundesliga appearance against Hamburger SV on the opening matchday. He is out long term, and his absence has already forced a reshuffle in attack.
Dortmund reacted late in the transfer window, bringing in Ethan Nwaneri from Arsenal on loan as a short-notice replacement for Konstantelias. On Tuesday night, Nwaneri was thrown into the fire earlier than planned, coming on for Karetsas after the collapse.
The problems do not stop in the final third. The defensive line is also creaking.
In the same match against Villarreal, coach Niko Kovac had to withdraw Nico Schlotterbeck, Emre Can and Filippo Mane, adding fresh concern to an already stretched squad.
Ramy Bensebaini, still dealing with a bruised ribcage, remains sidelined as well. Even if he had been fully fit, he would not have been available after his second yellow-red card in the heavy 1-4 defeat at Atalanta Bergamo back in February.
So Dortmund leave their Champions League opener with three points – but also with a deep sense of unease. A young player’s health is under scrutiny, the treatment room is filling up, and a long season is only just beginning.
