Galatasaray 3-3 Manchester United: Erik ten Hag's side throw away another lead in Champions League classic
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Updated 29/11/2023 at 23:59 GMT
Manchester United were again left to rue mistakes as they were pegged back by Galatasaray in a 3-3 thriller in the Champions League. After a rip-roaring game in Turkey, United's fate is now out of their own hands. Erik ten Hag's side need to beat Bayern Munich at Old Trafford next month, and hope for the result to go their way in the other game, to qualify for the last 16.
Scott McTominay of Manchester United reacts
Image credit: Getty Images
Manchester United blew a two-goal lead as their hopes of reaching the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League suffered a major blow following a pulsating 3-3 draw in hostile conditions away to Galatasaray.
The Red Devils led 2-0 and 3-1 in Istanbul but once again failed to protect significant advantages in Europe this season to leave their hopes of progressing from Group A hanging by a thread.
Erik ten Hag’s men got off to the perfect start on a rain-swept pitch thanks to a thunderous opener from Alejandro Garnacho, who followed up his wonder-strike at Everton with an excellent finish on 11 minutes.
Bruno Fernandes had provided the assist for the visitors’ first of the evening and it was the United captain who doubled their advantage just seven minutes later with a stunning 25-yard effort that flew into the top corner.
Galatasaray were dangerous throughout a hugely entertaining first 45 and they deservedly reduced the arrears when on-loan Chelsea star Hakim Ziyech somehow fired a low free-kick through a split wall and an unsighted Andre Onana.
The end-to-end nature of the match continued from the restart with Scott McTominay grabbing United’s third with a near-post finish on 55 minutes.
However, a howler from Onana allowed another Ziyech free-kick to squirm in past the hour mark before the United stopper was beaten at his near post by a thumping effort from substitute Kerem Akturkoglu.
Both sides had chances to win it in an enthralling finale but a modern-day classic perhaps deservedly ended all square.
The result leaves United bottom of the group with four points from five games played. Galatasaray are currently second on five points with FC Copenhagen third on four points ahead of their match at Group winners Bayern Munich later this evening.
United will now host Bayern Munich on Matchday 6 on December 6 hoping for a minor miracle. They must beat Bayern and hope Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen draw their fixture to progress.
Talking point – A chaotic thriller that will leave The Red Devils feeling blue
This was an enthralling watch particularly for the neutral. There were great goals, woeful errors and an all-out attacking frenzy to make for a barnstorming finale.
But for Manchester United and their supporters it will be another tough one to take as they again showed a lack of discipline and game-management to chuck away commanding leads and leave themselves staring into the Champions League abyss. The odds seem stacked against them and they only have themselves to blame, both here and in their 4-3 loss away to Copenhagen.
There will be another post-mortem following this six-goal epic and Onana will again receive some fierce criticism for a shocking display where there were question marks over all three of the goals he conceded.
Player of the match - Hakim Ziyech (Galatasaray)
The Gala playmaker showed glimpses of his old Ajax form to upset his old coach, ten Hag with two free-kicks and a sumptuous assist.
Player ratings
Galatasaray: Muslera 7, Boey 6, Bardakci 6, Ayhan 7, Angelino 6, Torreira 6, Ndombele 7, Ziyech 8, Mertens 6, Zaha 7, Icardi 7. Subs: Akturkoglu 7, Oliveira 6, Demirbay n/a, Nelsson n/a, Yilmaz n/a.
Man Utd: Onana 4, Wan-Bissaka 7, Maguire 6, Lindelof 6, Shaw 7, Amrabat 6, McTominay 7, Fernandes 7, Antony 7, Hojlund 7, Garnacho 7. Subs: Martial 6, Mainoo 7, Dalot 6, Pellistri 6.
Match highlights
11’ – GOAL! Galatasaray 0-1 Man Utd (Alejandro Garnacho): The visitors silence the whistles in the best possible way. Fernandes engineers it, playing a one-two with Hojlund before finding Garnacho to rifle high into the roof of the net from acres of space on the left side of the box.
18’ – GOAL! Galatasaray 0-2 Man Utd (Bruno Fernandes): It's an absolute rocket. Fernandes surges in from the left and thunders a stunning 25-yard shot into the top corner.
29’ – GOAL! Galatasaray 1-2 Man Utd (Hakim Ziyech): Ziyech curls a 25-yard free kick right of centre beyond the unsighted Onana after the wall split too easily.
55’ – GOAL! Galatasaray 1-3 Man Utd (Scott McTominay): The visitors restore their two-goal cushion as McTominay arrives on cue to steer home Wan-Bissaka's low cross from the right.
62’ – GOAL! Galatasaray 2-3 Man Utd (Hakim Ziyech): What a howler from Onana. Ziyech curls a free kick from the right into the danger zone and somehow beats the United keeper, who allows it to hit his leg and squirm into the back of the net.
71’ – GOAL! Galatasaray 3-3 Man Utd (Kerem Akturkoglu): The home side are level! Ziyech curls a superb pass into the path of Aktürkoglu who lashes a stunning shot beyond Onana from the right side of the area.
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