Teenage substitute Konstantinos Karetsas hit a low winner in the 72nd minute as Borussia Dortmund beat Real Betis 2-1 in the Champions League. Fábio Silva had put Dortmund ahead, and Aitor Ruibal had equalised, in a match that also saw Serhou Guirassy go off injured.
Dortmund, Germany: Borussia Dortmund needed a teenager to finish the job. Konstantinos Karetsas, on as a first-half replacement for the injured Serhou Guirassy, struck a low shot in the 72nd minute that gave Niko Kovač’s side a 2-1 win over Real Betis at Signal Iduna Park and three important Champions League points.
A disallowed goal and a tight first half
Betis thought they had the lead in the 14th minute when Antony scored, but the goal was ruled out after a review for an offside in the build-up involving Troy Parrott. Dortmund created chances of their own, with goalkeeper Álvaro Valles making several saves and denying Svensson in the 21st minute. Guirassy went down in the first half and could not continue, and Karetsas replaced him. It was goalless at the break.
Silva pounces, Ruibal levels
The opening goal came four minutes into the second half. Jobe Bellingham’s low shot was parried by Valles and Silva was first to the rebound, steering it in from close range in the 49th minute. It was the same Silva who had rescued a point at Bayern with a late goal in the Klassiker draw.
Betis hit back in the 67th minute. A defensive error by Waldemar Anton let in Abde Ezzalzouli, whose cross found Ruibal. He finished from an angle past goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, and it was 1-1.
Karetsas decides it
The winner came five minutes later. Silva turned near the halfway line and played a pass to Karetsas at the edge of the area, and the substitute drove a low shot into the bottom corner. Valles got a hand to it but could not keep it out.
Svensson missed a late chance to kill the game, and Dortmund had to see out the closing minutes, but Betis could not find another equaliser. The result lifts Dortmund up the league-phase table, though Guirassy’s injury, with no detail yet on its severity, will be a concern for Kovač.
Result: Borussia Dortmund 2, Real Betis 1 (UEFA Champions League, league phase, Matchday 4, Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, 4 November 2026; half-time 0-0). Dortmund: Silva 49’, Karetsas 72’. Betis: Ruibal 67’.
