Borussia Dortmund Injury Update: Konstantinos Karetsas Could Miss Several Weeks
Borussia Dortmund are waiting to learn how long Konstantinos Karetsas will be sidelined after the young attacker suffered an ankle injury during Saturday’s goalless Bundesliga draw away to Union Berlin. The incident came only minutes after the 18-year-old had entered the match, turning an already frustrating afternoon into a worrying one for Dortmund.
Ole Book, Dortmund’s sporting director, questioned how the sequence leading to the injury unfolded. He suggested that an earlier decision by referee Daniel Schlager may have helped create the situation in which Union midfielder Rani Khedira challenged Karetsas inside the visitors’ penalty area. While the precise severity of the injury has not been confirmed, the episode has prompted debate about the officiating as well as concern over the player’s recovery.
Book questions the events before the challenge
The incident began when Dortmund left-back Daniel Svensson attempted to pass the ball to Julian Ryerson. Union’s Andras Schäfer made contact with Svensson as he played the pass, causing the Dortmund defender to fall and preventing him from controlling the ball cleanly. The ball went out, and the officials awarded Union a throw-in.
Svensson briefly appealed to Schlager, and Book appeared to believe that the contact should have been called as a foul. Had Dortmund been awarded a free-kick instead, the throw-in—and the subsequent contest between Karetsas and Khedira—might not have happened in the same way.
“The opponent stepping on his foot there was unnecessary because there had been a wrong throw-in decision before that,” Book said after the match, according to RUHR24. “The whole situation should not have happened like that. Let’s hope it’s not quite that bad. He isn’t feeling good right now.”
Karetsas’s right foot appeared to give way under pressure during the challenge. He remained on the pitch briefly as teammates gathered around him, but he was unable to continue and had to be substituted. Book confirmed that the injury involved the ankle, although Dortmund initially offered no detailed diagnosis.
Dortmund offer cautious optimism over recovery
Images published by Ruhr Nachrichten showed Karetsas using crutches after arriving back in Dortmund late on Saturday. Those pictures raised fears that the injury could be serious, but the club later provided a more encouraging assessment. Managing director of sport Lars Ricken said the damage looked worse at first and suggested the teenager could potentially return during October.
“We were lucky in an unlucky situation; it looked worse at first,” Ricken said. “Kos’s absence will of course hurt us in the coming matches, but we can cope with it as a team. After the home match against Frankfurt, we’ll take it day by day and see how his recovery progresses.”
Dortmund have described the problem as a ligament injury without specifying which ligament was affected or providing a firm return date. That means the club’s medical staff will likely assess Karetsas’s progress over the coming days before setting a clearer timetable. For a young player, a careful rehabilitation plan will be important: rushing back too soon can risk aggravating an ankle injury, particularly for an attacker who depends on quick changes of direction and acceleration.
The timing is also challenging. Dortmund have a busy run of domestic and European fixtures, and Karetsas’s availability could affect the coach’s options in the attacking areas. His absence will not determine the team’s results on its own, but it may reduce flexibility as the club balances squad rotation, fitness and the demands of several competitions.
Dortmund reportedly arrange a costly flight to Azerbaijan
Travel logistics have also become a talking point ahead of Dortmund’s Champions League visit to Sabah FK in Baku. Following a demanding sequence of away matches, the club have reportedly arranged a specially configured Boeing 737 rather than using the usual Airbus A320 charter supplied by airline partner Eurowings.
According to Ruhr Nachrichten, the aircraft has been booked through KlasJet, a Lithuanian airline connected to Avia Solutions Group, and is fitted with 68 business-class seats. The report estimates that the arrangement could cost Dortmund between €400,000 and €500,000. The plane and its crew are said to be staying in Azerbaijan until Wednesday, allowing the club to organise a training session in Baku for players who do not feature in the match.
The team is also reportedly scheduled to stop in Trabzon, Turkey, to refuel on the outbound journey. While the expense is considerable, long-distance European travel can place extra strain on players, particularly when clubs have little time between fixtures. A more comfortable charter and an organised recovery schedule may help Dortmund manage fatigue during a congested period.
The match itself carries added importance. Dortmund’s reported 1-0 defeat to Bodø/Glimt has increased pressure in the Champions League league phase, making a positive result against competition newcomers Sabah especially valuable. The German side will need to respond with a more convincing performance if they are to strengthen their position and restore confidence in Europe.
Julian Brandt shines as Ajax return to winning ways
Elsewhere, former Dortmund midfielder Julian Brandt delivered a standout performance for Ajax, scoring twice in a 5-2 away win over FC Groningen in the Eredivisie. The result offered relief to the Dutch club after two league draws and a defeat in their Conference League opener had raised questions about their form.
Brandt opened the scoring in the 27th minute with a powerful left-footed effort, then struck again after the break to make it 3-1. The brace took his league tally to six goals and underlined the attacking quality he continues to provide. Ajax’s victory lifted them to fourth place, giving coach Miguel Munoz’s side a timely boost before their next European fixture.
Borussia Dortmund’s upcoming fixtures
Dortmund’s schedule leaves little room to pause. After travelling to Azerbaijan, they return to Bundesliga action against Eintracht Frankfurt before facing Werder Bremen in the DFB Cup. A high-profile league meeting with Bayern Munich follows at the end of the month. The sequence will test the squad’s depth, especially if Karetsas is unavailable and other players require rest.
For supporters following Borussia Dortmund news, the key developments are Karetsas’s recovery, the team’s response in the Champions League and how effectively the club manages its packed calendar. Any prediction for Dortmund’s upcoming matches must account for those factors: the quality of the opposition matters, but so do player availability, travel demands and the team’s ability to turn a disappointing draw into a stronger performance.
