Borussia Dortmund’s Karetsas collapses and is taken to hospital during Champions League match

Concern spread through Signal Iduna Park when Konstantinos Karetsas suddenly went down during Borussia Dortmund’s Champions League match against Villarreal. The 18-year-old midfielder had passed the ball to Julian Ryerson after 24 minutes, with no contact from an opponent, then raised his right arm for medical attention.

Karetsas sat briefly before lying down and holding his head. Dortmund’s medical staff came onto the field as teammates and substitutes watched anxiously. After several minutes, he left on a stretcher to applause from the crowd. Ethan Nwaneri replaced him.

The club later said Karetsas had experienced circulatory problems. “Konstantinos Karetsas had to leave the field in the match against Villarreal due to circulatory problems. Kosta is doing well under the circumstances and is on his way to hospital for further tests,” Borussia Dortmund said on its official social media accounts.

The episode drew visible concern from Dortmund general manager Lars Ricken and coach Niko Kovač. Karetsas was taken to hospital for examinations to determine what had happened.

Dortmund eventually won 3-2. The match was scoreless when Karetsas left, but all five goals came in the second half. Renato Veiga scored an own goal to put Dortmund ahead, Santiago Mouriño equalized, and Serhou Guirassy scored twice before Villarreal pulled one back in the third minute of stoppage time.

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Konstantinos Karetsas had to leave the field in the match against Villarreal due to circulatory problems. Kosta is doing well under the circumstances and is on his way to hospital for further tests.