Galatasaray produced one of the standout results of the UEFA Champions League group stage so far, edging Liverpool 1-0 at the roaring RAMS Park in Istanbul. Victor Osimhen was the hero of the night, converting a first-half penalty to seal the Turkish champions’ first points of the campaign and pile more pressure on Arne Slot’s struggling Reds.
Galatasaray made a full-time post in appreciation of their match winner, with a post via the team’s official X account.
They Posted:
In the game’s preview Softfootball reported that despite the English team being favourite, Galatasaray had the weaponry to hurt them, and one of those weapons was the former Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.
The Nigerian striker, who has made a habit of tormenting English opposition, struck confidently from the spot in the 16th minute, sending Alisson Becker the wrong way after Barış Yılmaz was brought down by makeshift full-back Dominik Szoboszlai. The goal came moments after Cody Gakpo’s effort was cleared off the line, a miss that proved costly as Galatasaray made Liverpool pay almost instantly.
It was a night that once again highlighted the Reds’ defensive vulnerabilities. Having suffered their first Premier League defeat of the season at Crystal Palace, Slot’s men found themselves under siege early on, with Alisson forced into an important save to deny Yılmaz just minutes before the penalty incident.
Liverpool tried to mount a response, with Florian Wirtz forcing Uğurcan Çakır into a diving stop midway through the first half. But the visitors never really settled, and Galatasaray deserved their halftime lead after capitalizing on repeated errors from the English side.
Things got worse for Liverpool after the break when Alisson was forced off injured while saving from Osimhen, who nearly doubled the lead after intercepting a loose pass. Backup keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was called on for his UCL debut, while Slot threw on Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak, and Conor Bradley in search of inspiration.
A dramatic finale seemed on the cards when referee Clément Turpin awarded Liverpool a late penalty, but VAR overturned the decision after replays showed minimal contact on Wilfried Singo. Despite eight minutes of added time, Galatasaray’s resolute backline held firm to secure a famous win in front of a raucous home crowd.
The defeat, Liverpool’s second in a row across all competitions, extends their winless streak away to Galatasaray to three matches. With a trip to Chelsea looming this weekend, Slot’s men suddenly find themselves under early-season scrutiny.
