Borussia Dortmund midfielders Giannis Konstantelias and Konstantinos Karetsas both started in their club's Bundesliga opener against Hamburg, where Konstantelias scored before sustaining a serious injury.
Konstantelias put Dortmund ahead after combining with fellow Greek playmaker Karetsas, who provided the assist. However, the evening ended in concern for Dortmund when Konstantelias went down squirming on the grass and limped off the pitch.
Medical staff fear that Konstantelias may have suffered a cruciate ligament injury. The attacking midfielder was unable to continue after falling in obvious pain during the match.
Dortmund Starting Lineup
Dortmund manager Niko Kovac named both Greek international players in his starting lineup for the opening Bundesliga match against Hamburg. Kovac deployed the pair on opposite wings to support forward Serhou Guirassy.
Dortmund lined up with Gregor Kobel in goal behind a defense of Gando, Waldemar Anton, Soumaila Mane and Julian Ryerson. Felix Nmecha, Jobe Bellingham and Svensson formed the midfield trio, with Konstantelias, Karetsas and Guirassy in attack.
Pre-Season Forms
Kovac gave Karetsas a starting place following an impressive series of performances during pre-season friendly matches. Karetsas showed strong creative form throughout the summer preparation to earn his spot in the opening lineup.
Konstantelias earned his starting selection after making a strong impression as a substitute during the German Super Cup. His impactful cameo in that match convinced Kovac to start him against Hamburg.
Injury Impact and Background
Borussia Dortmund are one of Germany's premier football clubs, based in North Rhine-Westphalia and competing in the Bundesliga and European competitions. The club relies heavily on dynamic wing play, making any injury to Konstantelias a concern early in the season.
Cruciate ligament damage is among the most severe injuries in professional sports, often requiring surgery and long recovery periods. Club doctors will conduct detailed medical evaluations to assess the full extent of the damage to Konstantelias.
Dortmund will monitor the recovery of Konstantelias while preparing for their upcoming Bundesliga fixtures.
