Galatasaray marked their first Champions League home victory in seven years by defeating Liverpool 1-0 at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium in Istanbul. Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen converted a decisive 16th-minute penalty, ensuring a famous night for the Turkish champions and handing Liverpool their second consecutive defeat in the tournament.
The penalty came after Baris Alper Yilmaz broke through Liverpool’s defence and was fouled by Dominik Szoboszlai. Goalkeeper Alisson had denied Osimhen from the spot in 2022, but this time the striker drilled his effort down the middle to secure the lead.
Galatasaray, led by manager Okan Buruk, have invested heavily in recent seasons, signing Osimhen for €75 million and goalkeeper Ugurgan Cakir for €27.5 million. Their spending this summer has even surpassed that of PSG, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan, reflecting their ambition to reclaim European glory. They also remain unbeaten in the Turkish Super Lig with seven straight wins.
Liverpool, meanwhile, showed promise but lacked sharpness in attack and compactness in defence. Despite having 67% possession and 16 attempts, they could not break down Galatasaray’s organised press. Injuries forced Dominik Szoboszlai into a makeshift right-back role, exposing weaknesses in central defence. Mohamed Salah, surprisingly benched, did not start a Champions League game for the first time in three years outside of inconsequential fixtures.
Alisson made crucial saves, including one that prevented Osimhen from scoring a brace, but suffered an injury late in the match and was replaced by Giorgi Mamardashvili. Liverpool’s finishing woes continued as Ekitike and Gakpo both missed clear chances, while defensive lapses gave Galatasaray their golden moment.
For Liverpool, this is not yet a crisis. They still lead the Premier League and are favourites to progress from the Champions League group stage. However, with upcoming fixtures against Chelsea, Manchester United, and Eintracht Frankfurt, coach Arne Slot must address defensive frailties and find greater attacking precision if Liverpool are to avoid further setbacks.