Borussia Dortmund beat Villarreal 3-2 as Karetsas is hospitalized

Medical emergency halts first half

Around the 23rd minute of the opening Champions League fixture against Villarreal, 18-year-old Greek midfielder Konstantinos Karetsas completed a pass before raising his arm to signal distress to the referee. The summer signing sat on the grass without contact from any opponent, prompting immediate intervention from team medical staff who attended to his upper body and checked his pulse. With 77,500 spectators looking on at the stadium, Karetsas was placed onto a stretcher and carried off the pitch with tears in his eyes while receiving an ovation from the crowd. He was transported directly to a Dortmund hospital accompanied by his mother, with club officials confirming that circulatory problems had caused the sudden episode.

It was circulatory problems out of nowhere. Nothing had indicated this.

Club officials provide condition updates

At halftime, club officials informed the dressing room that Karetsas was conscious and in stable condition under the circumstances, allowing manager Niko Kovac to reassure the squad before the restart. Karetsas had missed team training on Monday for load management reasons, but sports management emphasized that no underlying physical issues were apparent before kickoff. Sports director Ole Book noted that Karetsas was not immediately able to speak when escorted from the pitch. Book explained that the incident cast a somber mood over the club despite the opening European fixture.

It happened very suddenly. He sat down and was then taken to the hospital for further examinations, where he remains now.

High-scoring second half settles fixture

Following a goalless first half, the match reopened with increased attacking activity at both ends. Dortmund broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute when Villarreal defender Renato Veiga deflected the ball into his own net. The Spanish side drew level in the 66th minute through Santiago Mouriño following a corner kick, shortly after Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel required treatment for a hand injury sustained while saving a shot from Santi Comesaña. Forward Serhou Guirassy, making his 100th competitive appearance for Dortmund, restored the lead in the 80th minute before converting an 85th-minute penalty kick. In the 93rd minute, Kobel punched a clearance against Guirassy, resulting in an own goal that concluded the scoreline at 3-2.

Roster complications mount for Dortmund

The hospitalisation of Karetsas marks the second medical setback involving Dortmund's summer recruits within two weeks. Fellow Greek international Giannis Konstantelias suffered a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament tear in his left knee during his Bundesliga debut against Hamburger SV on 29 August. In response to that earlier injury, Dortmund signed teenager Ethan Nwaneri, who replaced Karetsas on Tuesday evening. Dortmund managing director Lars Ricken stated that further hospital evaluations across the coming days will determine the cause of Karetsas's circulatory problems before any timetable for his return is established.