Borussia Dortmund began their Bundesliga season with a victory, but a serious injury to new signing Giannis Konstantelias marred the success and could trigger late transfer activity. Coach Niko Kovac and sporting director Lars Ricken expressed concern after the 2-0 win over Hamburger SV and announced talks about potential new signings.
The team led by Niko Kovac sits in third place with three points after this first matchday. A look at the standings shows the tight competition at the top. With a goal difference of +2 and one win from one game, BVB travels to face TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on September 5th.
A suspected ACL injury for attacker Giannis Konstantelias could force Dortmund to change their transfer plans at short notice. "We have to think about it," said coach Niko Kovac after the match. "We have to see what might still be possible." Sporting director Lars Ricken also confirmed the topic would be discussed internally.
Konstantelias had scored the 2-0 goal in the first half against Hamburg but then had to be substituted injured. Kovac appeared alarmed after the final whistle. "It looks like the doctor tested it and he doesn't have a good feeling," the coach said. A final diagnosis was expected the following day. A long-term absence for the expensive new signing would significantly weaken the attack.
Borussia Dortmund won their home game against Hamburger SV on Saturday with a 2-0 scoreline. Serhou Guirassy opened the scoring in the ninth minute. Giannis Konstantelias made it 2-0 just before halftime. The game ended with ten men for BVB after substitute Samuele Inacio received a straight red card in the 77th minute.
Both the Straits Times Sport and NZZ reported consistently on Dortmund's dominant first half. The victory laid the foundation for a good start to the season. The team showed a solid performance in front of their home crowd and gave the promoted side few chances. The complete match stats are available online.
A long-term absence for Konstantelias would create a gap in the creative midfield and forward line. The Greek international was signed for a substantial fee from PAOK Saloniki in the summer and was meant to bring fresh ideas to the offense. His potential loss comes at an inconvenient time, just before the transfer window closes.
The club management must now weigh whether the existing squad is sufficient or if a short-term solution on the market needs to be found. Financial possibilities may be limited after the summer spending. The club's injury list is kept up to date on the injuries page.
The focused view now turns to the next competitive match. On September 5th, Borussia Dortmund faces TSG 1899 Hoffenheim away. Another away win would be important to consolidate the good starting position in the table. The team wants to carry the positive mood from the first game forward.
The current league position and positive goal difference provide grounds for optimism. The challenge will be to deliver consistent performances even without potentially key players like Konstantelias. The coming weeks will show the true depth of the squad.
