Konstantinos Karetsas Suffers Injury in UEFA Champions League Match
Konstantinos Karetsas was supposed to be enjoying a landmark night. Instead, Borussia Dortmund’s 18-year-old prospect left the pitch on a stretcher, the stadium suddenly hushed in a UEFA Champions League tie that had started at full throttle against Villarreal.
Midway through the first half, Karetsas released a routine pass, then instantly knew something was wrong. He raised his arm toward the bench, stopped, and sank to the turf. Teammates quickly signalled for help as Dortmund’s medical staff rushed on.
The treatment lasted several long minutes, with the club’s trainers concentrating on his upper body. No dramatic collision. No obvious impact. Just a young midfielder in clear distress as concern grew in both technical areas.
Eventually, the stretcher arrived. Karetsas was carefully lifted and taken straight down the tunnel to the locker room, the sense of unease cutting through what had been a lively European night. Ethan Nwaneri came on to replace him in the 27th minute.
Dortmund later moved to clarify the situation. The club announced that the substitution was “due to circulation problems” and confirmed that Karetsas had been transported to hospital for further examinations. The update added that he “is doing as well as can be expected given the circumstances,” a line that offered some reassurance but underlined the seriousness of the episode.
The incident came after a minor question mark over his preparation. Karetsas had not taken part in full training with the rest of the squad on the eve of the match. Head coach Niko Kovač, speaking before kick-off, played down any concerns, explaining that it was normal for one or two players to work individually in the gym rather than join the full session.
Karetsas only arrived at Dortmund this summer from Genk, part of a double move that also brought in fellow countryman Giannis Konstantelias. The club’s plans for the pair have already been disrupted. Konstantelias suffered an ACL tear in late August, a major blow that forced Dortmund into the market again, securing Nwaneri on loan from Arsenal to bolster their attacking options.
Match Outcome
On the night, the team found a way to respond. Serhou Guirassy struck twice in the second half, his brace turning a tense contest and driving Dortmund to a 3-2 win over the La Liga side. The result will help their Champions League campaign. The image that lingers, though, is of a teenager being carried away, and a club suddenly hoping that one of its brightest new talents can quickly return to his feet and his future.
