Galatasaray lost 3-1 to the Portuguese representative Sporting, which it hosted in the first week of the UEFA Champions League. Sports writers evaluated the match.
'IT STARTS BY MISSING HIS OSIMHEN'
Ebru Kılıçoğlu: "Is it a difficult away match? Yes... But is it a match in which Galatasaray can get points? Definitely yes. As a matter of fact, against Sporting Lisbon, Galatasaray immediately settles into the opponent's field and puts its pressure in front. It does not wait long to celebrate the goal: In the 5th minute, it takes the lead with the goal scored by Torreira after Inacio's mistake. Then, he finds positions that can end in a goal. Is he playing well? No. His football is mediocre. But is it the side that is close to winning? At least it gives that impression until you realize how fragile the defensive line is with the first goal conceded in the 27th minute. The home team proves that this is an illusion with the increased pressure in the second half. First, that pressure wins a penalty, which Suarez sends into the net (57'), and then Zalazar scores with a free kick (63'), Galatasaray's first in the Champions League. He starts his match by missing his Osimhen." (Republic)
'BATRAKOV GAVE THE IMAGE OF A FOOTBALL PLAYER BELOW THIS LEVEL'
Güntekin Onay: "Obviously, the game in the first 45 minutes could only be this positive in an away game in the Champions League, but this game and the positions in the first half should not have resulted in a 1-1 result. Sporting Lisbon, which was waiting behind the ball in the first half, started to meet Galatasaray ahead in the second half. By taking advantage of our representative's defensive weaknesses with a more courageous and aggressive football, they both scored 2 goals and created clear positions. Galatasaray is second in terms of both tempo and play. "He could not respond to Sporting in 45 minutes. I liked Torreira until he got tired in Galatasaray, but the new transfer Batrakov looked like a player who needs space and time to showcase his talents and is below this level." (Hürriyet)
'THESE TROUBLES CONTINUE NOT ONLY IN THE GIANTS LEAGUE, BUT ALSO IN THE SUPER LEAGUE'
Osman Şenher: "No matter what, it is a disturbing score. I look at the football played in the first half, there was a Galatasaray team that ran very well, fought well and helped each other on the field. Even though Sane failed in the last shots, he was literally shaking off the Sporting defense. Batrakov was quite effective both in attack and defense. In the second half, there was a very bad Galatasaray on the field. Barış Alper cannot play as a centre-forward, that's for sure. As such, the team is playing with one man missing. We think of Deniz Gül very much. "I guess that's why the coach doesn't let him play in the starting 11. Of course, he knows the truth. After all, the system is not established in Galatasaray. Footballers have difficulties in the position they play. These problems continue not only in the Champions League but also in the Super League." (Nationality)
'IF OSIMHEN HAPPENED, THE MATCH WOULD HAVE BEEN BREAKED OUT ALREADY'
Banu Yelkovan: "The first half was at a level that Galatasaray had not yet shown in the league. Even those who thought before the match that Sporting would have the ball and that Galatasaray would pursue quick counters were surprised. Nobody was upset even with the red card that did not come from VAR in the 24th minute, after all, the team was playing. If Osimhen had been there, he would have broken the match already. But he was not there. The hosts equalized with Catamo in the 27th minute. At half-time, everyone thought Torreira was 60. "He was questioning what would happen when he got tired around the minute. Galatasaray couldn't even reach that threshold. The second half came to 2-1 in favor of the hosts, first with a penalty confirmed by VAR, and then the match ended 3-1 with a free kick from 25 meters into the top corner." (Hürriyet)
'THE GIANTS LEAGUE DOES NOT ACCEPT SUCH MISTAKES'
Levent Tüzemen: "The Norwegian referee of the match, Eskas, and the German referee of the VAR, Dingert, did not make fair decisions. The kick that Altimira threw at Batrakov's stomach was a clear red card. Eskas showed yellow. Altimira also applauded the referee with joy. The penalty Eskas stole against Luis Suarez was ridiculous, but the German Dingert in the VAR did not even say "Come, Norwegian, examine the position" and approved the decision. We put the needle on the referees, and we will put the goalkeeper on Okan Buruk. Galatasaray is down 2-1, and when the score is 3-1, he throws Deniz Gül into the game. However, when Galatasaray entered the game with a score of 1-1, there were two players who were grinning: One of them was Leroy Sane, the other one was captain Yunus. These two were playing when the ball came to their feet, but Galatasaray had 11 players on the field. "There were 9 players playing. The score should not create complacency, a coach should read the game correctly. Is there a rule that says no players can be changed during the half-time? Unfortunately, coach Okan made the moves after Galatasaray fell behind. It was a comedy that Nhaga, İlkay and Ugochukwu entered the game in the 85th minute. The Champions League does not accept such mistakes." (Morning)
