Galatasaray defeated Stuttgart 2-0 in the UEFA Champions League with goals from Aleksey Batrakov. After the match, sports writers commented on the performance of the yellow-reds and the 90 minutes.
'HE CONTINUES ON HIS WAY WITH A COMFORTABLE MIND'
Ebru Kılıçoğlu: "Galatasaray reflects the passionate football of the last matches on the field with the first whistle: He presses the ball forward and wears out the opponent with pressure. The only thing that is different from normal is that Osimhen, who is the best in every match, is not at his usual performance. But Batrakov's performance, which he has taken to another level, closes all the gaps. The young football player relieves his team by scoring goals 3 minutes apart (12' and 15'). As for Stuttgart… "It's not bad football. But today, they are not liked by the ball at all (their clear positions are caught by both the posts and Uğurcan at very critical moments) and Galatasaray's performance is so high that their efforts are not enough. Despite their hard fouls... Galatasaray continues on its way with peace of mind, beating Stuttgart, which has never been defeated." (Republic)
'IT'S AS IF MERTENS WAS HIDDEN IN BATRAKOV'S JERSEY'
Uğur Meleke: "Of course, there are the usual suspects who stand out in this successful Champions League adventure of Galatasaray: Lemina swallowed the Stuttgart forwards yesterday, especially in the first half. With Osimhen's return, factory settings were found. Davinson played like a boss. However, once again, we need to open an extra parenthesis for the young Russian Batrakov. Both his anatomy, physiognomy and playing style remind me so much of Mertens... Batrakov's It's like a young Mertens is hidden inside his jersey.
He does not remain static in the number ten position, just like Mertens, he confuses the defense by constantly shifting left and right. He's cool like Mertens. And he knows how brilliant it is to play simply. "The fact that he changed the fate of big matches by playing so simply and without showing off is proof that a very bright future awaits him." (Hürriyet)
'IT SEEMS TO BE THE BIGGEST LOTTERY OF THIS SEASON'
Serkan Akcan: "Galatasaray, which broke the Champions League fixtures with Lille away, took a giant step by beating Stuttgart 2-0 at Ali Sami Yen. Galatasaray was not even playing its own mediocre game against Stuttgart, which spread on the field with 3-5-2, and scored two goals. After these goals, Galatasaray remained standing despite the toughness of its opponent and put up a great fight. Batrakov is the biggest player of this season. "It looks like it will be a lottery for Galatasaray. After Barcelona and Lille, the Russian football player also scored goals for Stuttgart. The 21-year-old midfielder is in the golden period of his career. His dynamism, game vision and finishing skills that he has developed are dazzling." (Fanatic)
'EQUAL SITUATION WITH EUROPE'S TOP LEVEL ARTILLERIES'
Osman Şenher: "Different football is played in the Champions League. More accurately, it should be called a football war. The English referee who manages the match will immediately pull the rope if Galatasaray shakes a little. The yellow-reds put up such a fight that they gave the message 'we will not give up on this match' throughout the 90 minutes.
I put Batrakov in the headline, why? This kid is now on par with the top players in Europe. I don't care about the two goals he scored. He ran, followed, found the position and did not forgive. Especially in the second goal, he hit the net between the goalkeeper's legs.
The Russian football player is everywhere on the field. He stopped Stuttgart's attacks in the midfield as much as the defenders. The duo won all of the matches. He got punched in the face, his eyebrows popped, but there was not the slightest drop in his game. He was kicked, they stepped on his foot, the referee watched, Batrakov was the star of the field as long as he played. Maybe he will be chosen as the player of the week in the Champions League." (Nationality)
'HE TURNED SEYRANTEPE INTO HEAVEN'
Attila Gökçe: "There are some facts: It is a fairy tale, it is even more beautiful than a dream. But you see it with your eyes and reach it with your hand. It is concrete. Galatasaray opened the curtain with such a fairytale reality... The two goals scored by Batrakov with his extraordinary intuition, energy and technical mastery in the 12th and 15th minutes turned Seyrantepe into heaven." (Nationality)
'IT WAS NOT A MATCH TO WIN WITHOUT A FIGHT'
Bülent Timurlenk: "On a bad ground, in harsh weather conditions, you come out of the locker room as if it were 0-0 even if the score is 2-0... They proved this in Lille. They continued it yesterday. It was not a match that could be won without fighting at a tempo much higher than the intensity of the Super League. They made the opponent draw card after card. While Buruk sent off his two-card men Barış and Sallai in the 65th minute, they actually made the following changes. He implemented a plan similar to the Fenerbahçe derby. The two clear positions saved by Uğurcan in the second half were the practice of the idea of 'If you want to win a match in the Champions League, no one should be below par' on the green field. Galatasaray President Dursun Özbek should take good care of Osimhen's ankle, which spun on the collapsed ground yesterday, and his students deserve much better. (Morning)
'KALINKA NIGHT AT RAMS PARK'
Levent Tüzemen: "We had a Kalinka night at Rams Park! The two goals scored by Batrakov in 15 minutes contributed to the excitement of victory in the stands. Batrakov, who stands out with his hard work, intelligence and quality as well as his modest identity, made 2 quality shots that can be considered a lesson in both goals. In the first goal, he stuck the ball into the upper net, and in the second goal, he hit the dead spot of the goalkeepers, between the legs. Stuttgart, as a German team, runs hard, They are fighting well. I think it was a great chance for G.Saray that the ball hit two posts and did not go into the net in the 7th minute. This missed goal was the end for Stuttgart. Although Osimhen fought well and worked hard, his insistent attempt to score a goal led to the loss of some positions. Torreira worked hard again, and Lemina successfully controlled the defense and midfield. "The fact that he did not think about the attack and came to help the defense was a behavior that should be applauded." (Morning)
