If you want to watch a Champions League spectacle, you should watch Manchester United this year. The match started with a 3-4 defeat in Munich, then continued with a 2-3 defeat against Galatasaray at home, and then a 3-4 defeat in Copenhagen.
Galatasaray and United created a crazy festival full of possibilities in Istanbul this evening. The match ended 3-3 thanks to two goals scored by Hakim Ziyech (both assisted by errant goalkeeper André Onana).
Manchester United is in last place in Group A with 4 points and no longer has the chance to advance to the round of 16.
reunification
There was then a long embrace between United coach Erik ten Hag and former Ajax guard Ziyech. The Champions League winner enjoyed a great Premier League meeting atmosphere with André Onana, Antony, Sofyan Amrabat (United), Ziyech, Dries Mertens and Angeliño (Galatasaray) in the starting lineup.
Even though the poster looked like it had literally fallen into the water due to persistent rain, they put on a show. Perhaps the nature of the pitch played a role in both teams’ decision to bypass midfield whenever possible and look for depth as quickly as possible.
What followed was an unprecedented celebration of possibility.
Garnacho again
Last Sunday, it took just three minutes for Alejandro Garnacho to open the scoring with a spectacular free kick. Now it took just over ten minutes and the goal was a little less beautiful.
Garnacho was cleverly saved by Bruno Fernandes, slamming the ball hard over the top of the goal and then shouting at the Turkish fans with his hands behind his ears.
It was not appreciated: As objects flew around his ears, Garnacho was asked to calm down by his teammates and later by Spanish referee José Maria Sánchez.
A few minutes later Torreira almost equalized but Onana miraculously kept the ball out of the goal. Scott McTominay then appeared to get his hands on the ball but referee Sánchez saw nothing.
Beauty Fernandes
During the attack of the home team, Fernandes gave the best moment of the match in twenty minutes. The Portuguese player picked up the ball from around 30 meters away, placed it in front of his right wing and sent the ball unstoppable into the intersection.
Luke Shaw also made it 0-3 midway through the first half, but the left-back, who had just returned from injury, was surprised by Højlund’s cross and pushed the ball over the Turkish goal from close range.
Ziyech’s goals
Shortly afterwards, Ziyech caused tension again with a well-deserved free kick. He shot over the wall and wrong-footed former Ajax teammate Onana.
Just before half-time, Mauro Icardi thought he would make it 2-2, but his goal was disallowed for offside. It was Mertens, not the Argentine player, who was in a slightly offside position.
United managed to score on the counter-attack. Antony found Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Scott McTominay crossed the ball: 1-3.
Ziyech was wronged by Onana again
Galatasaray looked confused for a moment but woke up when Ziyech scored the second goal from a free kick. Although Ziyech’s first goal seemed durable, this time the entire goal came from Onana.
The former Ajax goalkeeper completely misjudged the free kick and turned it into his own goal.
A little later, Galatasaray made the score 3-3 and this time Onana could not be blamed. Substitute Kerem Aktürkoğlu shot a beautiful shot into the top corner.
Fernandes returned from the post
Pushed by the crowd, Galatasaray forgot to defend and ran away several times. Fernandes came closest to scoring: the United captain shot the post from distance.
The score remains at 3-3 and Galatasaray has the best chance of advancing.
Source: NOS
I’m George Gonzalez, a professional journalist and author at The Nation View. With more than 5 years of experience in the field, I specialize in covering sports news for various print media outlets. My passion for writing has enabled me to craft stories that capture the attention of readers all over the world.
