Konstantinos Karetsas was forced off the pitch on a stretcher after just 23 minutes of Borussia Dortmund's Champions League opener against Villarreal at Signal Iduna Park. The 18-year-old Greek winger collapsed without contact while executing a routine dribble, immediately signaling for medical attention. The rapid deployment of stretcher bearers suggested a potentially serious injury beyond a simple muscular strain.
Karetsas had already been managing his workload before the match, sitting out Dortmund's final training session due to load management protocols. His premature exit marks a devastating blow for the German club, which is already grappling with mounting injury crises across the squad. Ethan Nwaneri replaced the stricken winger, continuing his loan spell from Arsenal following a late transfer window move.
Defensive Crisis Deepens for Kovac
Head coach Niko Kovac faced a defensive nightmare against the La Liga side. He was forced to field a makeshift backline without key players Nico Schlotterbeck, Emre Can, and Filippo Mane. Additionally, Ramy Bensebaini remains sidelined with a ribcage bruise and is unavailable due to suspension following his yellow-red card incident against Atalanta in February.
The timing of Karetsas's injury compounds Dortmund's misfortune this season. Giannis Konstantelias, signed as an attacking reinforcement, suffered a cruciate ligament tear on his Bundesliga debut against Hamburger SV and faces an extended spell on the sidelines. Nwaneri's emergency loan from Arsenal was intended to address that gap, yet the injury toll continues mounting.
Dortmund's medical team will conduct comprehensive assessments on Karetsas in the coming days. The club desperately needs positive news after a season marred by injuries to both established players and promising young talents. Their Champions League campaign faces early complications if squad depth suffers further damage.
