Credited from: ALJAZEERA
In a thrilling UEFA Champions League match held in Istanbul, Galatasaray defeated Liverpool 1-0, with Victor Osimhen scoring the decisive penalty in the 16th minute. This came after Baris Alper Yilmaz was fouled by Dominik Szoboszlai, giving Galatasaray an early lead at Rams Park. The win marked the Turkish side's first victory in the Champions League this season, especially notable as they bounced back from a heavy defeat earlier in the month against Frankfurt, according to Al Jazeera, Anadolu Agency, and Reuters.
Throughout the match, both teams displayed aggressive attacking intent; however, Galatasaray's defense proved resilient. Liverpool made several attempts to equalize, but their players looked vulnerable, particularly in the backline. After Alisson left the game due to injury, his replacement, Giorgi Mamardashvili, faced pressure as Liverpool sought to capitalize on their chances. Coach Arne Slot confirmed that Alisson is expected to miss the next match against Chelsea due to his injury, highlighting the severity of the situation for Liverpool, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.
The climax of the match occurred in the 90th minute when a potential penalty for Liverpool was reversed following a VAR review, which ruled that Wilfried Singo had touched the ball first. This decision compounded Liverpool's misfortunes, as they not only failed to score but also lost two key players to injuries throughout the match. Coach Slot commented on how the team was "outsmarted" in crucial moments, reinforcing the challenges they faced throughout the match, as noted by Anadolu Agency and Reuters.
Fans at the stadium made their voices heard not only through cheers and chants but also by displaying banners protesting the ongoing situation in Gaza. In addition, they paid tribute to the late Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, with heartfelt displays before kickoff. This added an emotional layer to an already charged atmosphere during the match, as covered by Al Jazeera, Anadolu Agency, and Reuters.