Karetsas taken to hospital after circulatory issue on Dortmund Champions League debut
Borussia Dortmund teenager Konstantinos Karetsas was taken to hospital for further examinations after suffering circulatory problems during his Champions League debut against Villarreal.
Key takeaways
- The 18-year-old Greece prospect left the match after 25 minutes with the score still 0-0.
- Karetsas alerted the referee after playing a pass, then sat down on the pitch.
- He received treatment on the ground before being carried off on a stretcher.
- Dortmund said the player was doing as well as possible before travelling to hospital for tests.
- Dortmund recovered to beat Villarreal 3-2, with Serhou Guirassy scoring twice late on.
Karetsas assessed after early exit
Karetsas was unable to continue in Tuesday’s European tie after signalling that something was wrong shortly after the 25-minute mark. The midfielder had completed a pass to a team-mate before calling for the referee’s attention and sitting on the turf.
Medical staff treated him while he was lying down, before he was removed from the field on a stretcher. Dortmund confirmed that the issue was related to circulation and said he would undergo additional checks in hospital.
The incident came on a major night for Karetsas, who was making his first Champions League appearance. He joined Dortmund in the summer alongside fellow Greece international Giannis Konstantelias, with both arrivals viewed as significant additions for the club.
Dortmund rally past Villarreal
Dortmund eventually claimed a 3-2 victory after a difficult evening. Renato Veiga’s own goal helped turn the contest, before Guirassy struck twice in the closing stages.
The two late goals came on Guirassy’s 100th appearance for Dortmund.
Konstantelias, meanwhile, is expected to miss the remainder of the campaign after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury last month.
