Afət Ziyadqızı
Galatasaray began the new UEFA Champions League season with a defeat.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the Istanbul club visited Sporting at Lisbon’s Jose Alvalade Stadium. Galatasaray started the match strongly and opened the scoring in the fifth minute after Goncalo Inacio scored an own goal.
After dominating the opening minutes and creating several chances, the visitors ceded the initiative to their opponents. Sporting equalized in the 27th minute through Geny Catamo. Leroy Sane had an opportunity to score in the 37th minute but failed to capitalize. The first half ended 1-1.
The hosts took the lead in the second half. Luis Suarez converted a penalty in the 57th minute to put Sporting 2-1 ahead.
The Portuguese club extended its lead to two goals in the 63rd minute when Rodrigo Zalazar scored from a free kick. The score remained unchanged for the rest of the match, and Galatasaray lost 3-1.
Sporting fans protested against Rafael Leao, a product of the club’s academy who now plays for Galatasaray. The Portuguese footballer left Sporting in 2018 after unilaterally terminating his contract following an attack on the club’s training facilities.
Leao came on in the 58th minute as a substitute for Leroy Sane. The stands whistled whenever the player touched the ball.
The defeat was Galatasaray’s first setback in an official match this season. Okan Buruk’s team had recorded three wins and one draw in its four opening Turkish Super Lig matches.
Galatasaray have won only one of their 10 opening-round matches in the group and league phases of the Champions League. The Istanbul club drew four of those games and lost five.
