Dortmund Duo Rested for Villarreal Clash

Borussia Dortmund’s preparations for their Champions League opener against Villarreal came with a minor jolt on Monday: Daniel Svensson and Konstantinos Karetsas were nowhere to be seen in full team training.

Any alarm lasted only as long as it took Niko Kovac to sit down in the press room.

The head coach made it clear both players are fully fit and in contention for Tuesday night’s clash, explaining that their absence from the main session was planned recovery work rather than a late injury scare.

“That was completely normal today. It can happen from time to time that we let one or two players recover in the locker room or in the gym. Both are in perfect health and are options for the game,” Kovac stressed.

So while Svensson and Karetsas were managed carefully behind the scenes, Dortmund’s actual personnel blow had already arrived at the weekend.

Filippo Mané, forced off in the first half of the 3-2 Bundesliga win over Hoffenheim, will miss the Villarreal game with a muscle injury. It’s a frustrating setback, not a structural crisis, in Kovac’s eyes.

“We're assuming nothing else will happen before the international break. He'll certainly return after that,” the coach said, underlining that the problem did not stem from mismanagement. “Unfortunately, things like this are just part of the game. In terms of training load and training management, everything was top-notch; he had really good endurance and strength numbers.”

Suspensions bite as injuries linger

Kovac’s selection puzzle doesn’t end with Mané.

Nico Schlotterbeck and Ramy Bensebaini have both taken steps forward in their respective recoveries, but neither can be used on Tuesday. The pair are suspended for the group-stage opener, removing two experienced defensive options from the board just as they edge closer to full fitness.

Long-term absentees Giannis Konstantelias and Emre Can remain out as well, leaving Dortmund to launch their European campaign without two of their key figures in midfield creativity and leadership.

So the picture is clear. No fresh crisis for Svensson and Karetsas, one enforced absence in Mané, and a back line trimmed by suspension. How Dortmund absorb those hits against Villarreal will say plenty about the depth and resilience of Kovac’s squad at the very start of their Champions League journey.