Serhou Guirassy scored twice as Borussia Dortmund opened their Champions League campaign with a 4-2 win over Villarreal, despite later scoring an own goal.
The match also brought concern for Greece midfielder Konstantinos Karetsas, who left the pitch in the 27th minute with what Dortmund described as “circulatory problems”.
The 18-year-old received treatment after slumping to the ground following a pass. Dortmund said Karetsas was doing well under the circumstances and would undergo further tests at hospital.
Dortmund had to survive a difficult first half before taking control after the interval.
Villarreal missed several chances to take the lead. Georges Mikautadze scuffed a close-range opportunity, while Tajon Buchanan forced Gregor Kobel into a sharp save.
The hosts finally went ahead in the 53rd minute when Renato Veiga inadvertently deflected a Maximilian Beier cross into his own net.
Villarreal responded 14 minutes later. Santiago Mourino beat Kobel with a flicked near-post header just seconds after the Dortmund goalkeeper received treatment.
Kobel quickly made amends by tipping a fierce Buchanan strike over the bar.
Dortmund then regained their momentum, but Guirassy and Beier got in each other’s way as they tried to finish a Marcel Sabitzer cross.
Guirassy finally found the net in the 80th minute. The striker tapped in from Fabio Silva’s ball across the face of goal to mark his 100th appearance for Dortmund.
The Guinea international then doubled his tally from the penalty spot three minutes later after Mourino fouled him at a corner.
Guirassy has now directly contributed to 26 goals in 25 Champions League appearances since the start of the 2024-25 season. Only Erling Haaland has a better record in that period.
Villarreal pulled one back in bizarre fashion late on. Kobel saved an effort, but the ball rebounded off Guirassy’s face and into the Dortmund goal.
The visitors nearly completed an unlikely comeback in the fifth minute of added time. Veiga’s close-range effort took a deflection and went narrowly wide.
