Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.
Niko Kovac was left “wanting more” after Borussia Dortmund’s season-opening victory over Hamburg, though a potentially serious injury suffered by Giannis Konstantelias left a sour taste.
Konstantelias forced Dortmund’s second goal when his shot deflected in off Sebastiaan Bornauw, as he enjoyed a lively Bundesliga debut after joining from PAOK for €30m.
Serhou Guirassy was also on target as Dortmund made it 12 successive Bundesliga campaigns where they have won their opening home match.
Even a late red card for substitute Samuele Inacio did little to knock Dortmund off their stride, but an injury to Konstantelias could have ramifications for the rest of the season.
It is feared the 23-year-old winger may have sustained a serious knee issue when he went down early in the second half, causing him to hobble off in discomfort.
“I was hoping for a win. The way we pulled it off, especially in the first half, makes me very happy,” Kovac told BVB’s website afterwards.
“That’s the kind of football we’re capable of playing and the kind we need to play – especially at home. It has left us wanting more.
“For me, what matters most is how many chances we created. That’s because the more chances you have, the higher the likelihood that you’ll win games.
“What really saddens me is the fact Giannis got injured and that we’re looking at a more serious issue. Our medical doctor didn’t seem too optimistic.”
Dortmund had two Greek debutants in their frontline, with former Genk attacker Konstantinos Karetsas also impressing as he provided the assist for Guirassy’s opener.
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) August 29, 2026
Karetsas was directly involved in nine shots (six shots, three chances created) on Saturday, a new record for a Dortmund player on their Bundesliga debut.
But he still feels there is more to come, saying he should have had a goal to go with his assist.
Karetsas said: “I really enjoyed my first Bundesliga game. It was my first time playing in front of the Yellow Wall with all the fans – It was so loud! That was the best part for me today.
“During every good piece of play, we could hear the whole stadium. This is a new experience for me, and I’m incredibly grateful for it.
“In the end, I lacked a bit of efficiency. I should have scored. We need to work on our efficiency as a team in upcoming games as well.
“We need to take it one game at a time now. With our fans behind us, anything is possible.”
Dortmund visit fifth-tier Hamburg-Eimsbutteler Ballspiel-Club in the DFB-Pokal on Tuesday, before taking on Hoffenheim in their next Bundesliga match.
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