Rooted to the bottom of their UEFA Champions League group with just one win from four games ahead of their trip to Istanbul, Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United would be keen to pick up three points after falling to defeat in October’s home leg.
GAL: Muslera; Angeliño, Bardakci, Ayhan, Boey; Ndombele, Torreira; Zaha, Mertens, Ziyech; Icardi
MUN: Onana; Shaw, Lindelof, Maguire, Wan-Bissaka; Amrabat, McTominay; Garnacho, Fernandes, Antony; Højlund
Having stunned the footballing world with his acrobatic bicycle kick against Everton last weekend, Alejandro Garnacho was keen to silence the raucous home atmosphere – and he did just that after eleven minutes, netting his first UEFA Champions League goal after smashing home into the roof of the net.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhen Bruno Fernandes doubled their lead seven minutes later, the Red Devils looked set to be cruising to a rather comfortable victory as their Portuguese maestro curled a stunning effort into the top-left corner past a despairing Fernando Muslera.
But André Onana’s halfhearted attempt to stop a free-kick from Hakim Ziyech saw their advantage halved before the break, with the ex-Chelsea forward smashing his strike into the bottom-left corner from long range.
Ten minutes into the second half, Scott McTominay turned home a fine cross from Aaron Wan-Bissaka to restore the visitors’ two-goal buffer – but it would ultimately count for nothing, as another Onana blunder saw Ziyech net another free-kick for Galatasaray.
With nineteen minutes left on the matchday clock, Kerem Akturkoglu restored parity for the hosts – and there was hope that Wilfried Zaha could net a late winner, though the Ivorian failed to do so against his former club.
Embed from Getty ImagesDefeat in Istanbul means Manchester United are no longer in control of their UEFA Champions League destiny, relying on other results if they’re to rise from the bottom of Group A and seal progression to the knockouts. Should Copenhagen emerge victorious at the Allianz Arena later on Wednesday, the Red Devils’ only hope of European progression will be via the UEFA Europa League.
