Galatasaray falls to Young Boys in UEFA Champions League play-off first leg
Michy Batshuayi of Galatasaray scores his second goal during the UEFA Champions League Play-offs Leg 1 of 2 match Young Boys vs Galatasaray at Wankdorf Stadium in Bern , Switzerland on August 21, 2024 (AA Photo)
Galatasaray, the reigning Turkish Super Lig champions, suffered a 3-2 defeat against Young Boys in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League play-off. The match, held in Istanbul, saw a dramatic turnaround with Young Boys securing a crucial advantage ahead of the return leg.
Young Boys took control early, with Monteiro scoring twice in the first half to give the Swiss side a 2-0 lead at halftime. The first goal came in the 4th minute, and Monteiro added another in the 45th minute. The opening period also saw Galatasaray’s goalkeeper, Fernando Muslera, leave the field due to injury, replaced by Gunay Guvenç.
Galatasaray improved after the break, with Michy Batshuayi playing a pivotal role. He scored twice in quick succession, first in the 67th minute and then in the 72nd, leveling the score at 2-2. However, the momentum shifted back to Young Boys in the 86th minute when Ugrinic converted a penalty, awarded after a handball by Abdulkerim Bardakci. Bardakci also received a red card, leaving Galatasaray with ten men.
The match ended with Young Boys claiming a 3-2 victory, giving them a significant advantage for the second leg. The outcome puts Galatasaray in a challenging position as they prepare for the return fixture, needing to overturn the deficit to advance to the Champions League group stage.
