Guinea striker Serhou Guirassy suffered an injury scare during Borussia Dortmund’s 2-1 victory over Real Betis in the Champions League on Wednesday, leaving his availability for the country’s next international gathering uncertain.
The forward was withdrawn in the 34th minute after experiencing discomfort in his thigh, having appeared to hurt himself during an incident early in the match.
Dortmund manager Niko Kovač offered some encouragement after the game, suggesting his initial assessment did not point to a serious injury.
However, further medical examinations were scheduled to provide a clearer picture of the striker’s condition.
“I think nothing is broken. That’s my first feeling. […] We didn’t want to take any risks.”
Guirassy’s withdrawal came after an unfortunate moment in the opening stages of the contest. In the third minute, the Guinean slipped inside the six-yard box while attempting to connect with a cross from Julian Ryerson on the right.
He narrowly failed to reach the delivery before colliding with the near post. The incident appeared to contribute to the physical discomfort that eventually forced him out of the match.
Konstantinos Karétsas came on in the 34th minute to replace the injured forward, with Dortmund having to continue without one of their attacking options for the remainder of the first half.
Despite the setback, the German side managed to secure all three points in a closely contested encounter.
The teams went into the break without a goal, but Dortmund found the breakthrough four minutes after the restart when Fábio Silva scored in the 49th minute to put the hosts ahead.
Real Betis responded through Ruibal, who restored parity and threatened to deny the home side victory.
However, Karétsas made a decisive contribution after coming off the bench, scoring in the 72nd minute to put Dortmund back in front and ultimately settle the contest at 2-1.
While the result provided a boost for the German club, attention quickly turned to Guirassy’s condition following his early departure.
The timing of the injury is particularly significant for Guinea, with the next Syli National gathering in Conakry approaching.
The national team will be keen to have the striker available, given his importance to their attacking options.
For now, his participation remains uncertain as the scheduled medical examinations are expected to offer further details about the extent of the problem.
Kovač’s initial assessment provides some hope that the issue may not be serious, but Dortmund will be cautious about rushing the forward back into action.
The results of the examinations will therefore be important not only for the German club but also for Guinea, who will be monitoring the situation closely ahead of their next international assignment.
Dortmund will take satisfaction from their comeback victory against Betis, but Guirassy’s fitness is likely to remain the main concern following a night that delivered three points alongside an unwelcome injury setback.
