Karetsas Collapse Shocks Dortmund – BVB Faces Injury Crisis
Borussia Dortmund’s Champions League opener should have been remembered for a wild 3-2 win. Instead, the image that lingers is of an 18-year-old lying on the turf, arm raised, eyes full of tears.
After just 23 minutes against the LaLiga side at Signal Iduna Park, the stadium fell silent. Paris Brunner Karetsas – the young Greek attacking talent – had just completed a routine dribble, slipped a simple pass, then suddenly signalled for help. No tackle, no clash, no obvious cause. He raised his arm, called for treatment, and seconds later paramedics were sprinting across the pitch.
He was carried off to warm applause, the crowd trying to offer what comfort it could as the teenager left the field visibly emotional.
Dehydration Suspected – But No Final Diagnosis Yet
According to Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws, early indications point towards dehydration. The report suggests Karetsas may have collapsed because he had not taken on enough water immediately before kick-off.
Doctors at the hospital initially suspected dehydration during their first examination. By Wednesday lunchtime, though, Dortmund had not released any official diagnosis or detailed medical statement. The uncertainty hangs in the air.
Asked by SID, a club spokesman limited himself to one line that at least brought some relief: Karetsas was “doing well under the circumstances”. Earlier, sporting managing director Lars Ricken had described the incident as sudden “circulatory problems”.
The shock within the club was obvious.
“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,” sporting director Ole Book said straight after the final whistle. “It came very suddenly. Of course, that really puts a significant damper on the mood.”
A five-goal thriller, three points in the bag – yet Dortmund left the pitch with more worry than joy.
Another Blow for an Already Stretched Squad
The question now bites hard: will BVB have to do without another key attacking option?
Losing Karetsas for any extended spell would hit Dortmund at a cruel time. New signing Giannis Konstantelias had already torn his cruciate ligament on his very first Bundesliga appearance against Hamburger SV on the opening matchday. He faces a long road back and will be missing for months.
That injury forced Dortmund back into the market before the transfer window closed. Ethan Nwaneri arrived on loan from Arsenal at short notice as Konstantelias’ replacement. On Tuesday night, it was Nwaneri who came on for Karetsas after the collapse, thrown into a high-pressure European tie sooner than anyone expected.
The problems do not stop in attack. The defensive line is creaking as well. Coach Niko Kovac was forced to withdraw Nico Schlotterbeck, Emre Can and Filippo Mane during the clash with Villarreal, adding to a growing list of concerns at the back.
Ramy Bensebaini, still nursing a bruised ribcage, remains unavailable. Even if he were fully fit, he would not have been allowed to feature anyway, suspended after his second yellow-red card in the 1-4 defeat at Atalanta Bergamo in February.
A Squad on Edge
Dortmund have their win. They have points on the board in Europe. But they also have a squad already frayed by injuries, now waiting anxiously on the health of a teenager who crumpled to the grass without warning.
If Karetsas’ scare proves serious, BVB’s season could hinge not on tactics or transfers, but on whether this patched-together group can survive the strain of a campaign that has barely begun.
