Galatasaray suffers Champions League defeat in Lisbon

Galatasaray suffered a defeat against Sporting CP in Lisbon, marking a difficult start to their UEFA Champions League campaign. The loss has highlighted significant issues regarding the club’s summer transfer planning and squad management.

Despite several new signings, only Aleksey Batrakov was included in the starting eleven. The team faced tactical scrutiny after winger Barış Alper Yılmaz was deployed as a striker in the absence of Victor Osimhen, rather than new forward Deniz Gül. Additionally, defensive decisions drew criticism; Ismail Jakobs, a natural left-back, played as a center-back because new defender Bitshiabu had only participated in a few training sessions.

Midfield and fitness issues also impacted the performance. Following Mario Lemina’s absence, new signing Lesley Ugochukwu was not selected for the starting lineup. Furthermore, star transfer Rafael Leão began the match on the bench due to a lack of physical readiness following his late arrival. Technical director Okan Buruk also faced questions regarding the decision to bench Abdülkerim Bardakcı, opting for the speed of Jakobs to counter Sporting’s fast-paced attack.