OMM Redaksiyası
Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk has explained why he substituted Aleksey Batrakov in the 58th minute of the team’s 1-4 loss to Barcelona in the second round of the UEFA Champions League league phase. The Russian midfielder scored Galatasaray’s only goal in the 28th minute.
Buruk said Batrakov told him at halftime that he was beginning to tire. He added that Lemina was also not at the required match fitness level. With Galatasaray trailing 1-3, the coach brought on Leslie Ugochukwu alongside Lucas Torreira to add stability in midfield.
“We had to strengthen our defense because the opponent had started getting forward very easily and frequently,” Efutbolbu quoted Buruk as saying.
In the match played on October 13, Barcelona overturned the deficit after Batrakov’s goal with strikes from Joao Cancelo (43), Lopez (50), Gordon (53) and Adeyemi (65). Batrakov’s goal was his first in his career with the Turkish club.
