Borussia Dortmund player rushed to hospital after being stretchered off pitch in worrying scenes

Borussia Dortmund winger Konstantinos Karetsas was rushed to hospital shortly after being stretched off against Villarreal.

The 18-year-old midfielder worryingly sat down on the pitch unchallenged in the 23rd minute of the Champions League match.

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AFP

Dortmund confirmed that the Greece international had been taken to hospital after suffering ‘circulation problems’.

Fans in attendance at Signal Iduna Park were understandably concerned by the player’s bad turn.

The club were quick to inform supporters of Karetsas’ condition and whereabouts.

They wrote on X: “Konstantinos Karetsas had to leave the pitch in the game against Villarreal due to circulation problems.

“Kosta is doing as well as can be expected given the circumstances, and he is on his way to the hospital for further examinations.”

He was quickly replaced by Arsenal star Ethan Nwaneri who joined the Bundesliga side on a season-long loan.

Dortmund had already suffered a huge injury blow after fellow summer signing Giannis Konstantelias suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury on the opening weekend of the season.

The injury is likely to keep him out of action for much of the campaign.

Nico Kovac’s side were quick to regroup after the interval and showed their quality in an action-packed second half which saw Dortmund edge a five-goal thriller.

They were given a helping hand in eight minutes after half time thanks to an own goal from former Chelsea defender Renato Veiga.

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Santiago Mourino leveled shortly afterwards for the La Liga side until Dortmund striker Sehrou Guirassy took centre stage.

The Guinean netted twice in the final ten minutes to hand his side a crucial three points.

He then incredibly put through his own net in the third minute of added time to put a nervous spin on the final exchanges.

Dortmund are not among the favourites to lift the Champions League but boast plenty of know how in reaching the latter stages,

Winners of the competition in 1997, Dortmund have since contested two finals – both stages at Wembley.

They were beaten 2-1 by Bayern Munich in an all-German affair in 2013.

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Their second attempt at glory came in 2024 but slipped to a 2-0 defeat to a Vinicius Junior-inspired Real Madrid.

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