Galatasaray’s hopes of advancing to the UEFA Champions League group stage were dashed on Tuesday after a 1-0 home defeat to Switzerland’s Young Boys in the second leg of the play-off round at Rams Park. The Turkish side, having lost 3-2 in the first leg in Switzerland, needed a decisive victory to stay in the competition but failed to deliver.
In a match that offered few chances for Galatasaray, the crucial blow came in the 87th minute when Young Boys’ player Virginius scored the only goal of the game. The goal, which followed a period of sustained pressure from the Swiss side, sealed the fate of the Istanbul club.
Adding to the drama, Galatasaray’s experienced goalkeeper Fernando Muslera received a red card in the 88th minute after protesting the goal to the referee. Reserve goalkeeper Gunay Guvenc was substituted in, replacing Kerem Akturkoglu, but it was too late for the home side to recover.
Throughout the match, Galatasaray struggled to create clear-cut opportunities. A disallowed goal by Kaan Ayhan in the 55th minute for offside was among the few moments that ignited the home crowd. Despite late efforts by Mauro Icardi and Michy Batshuayi, who were both denied by Young Boys’ goalkeeper Keller, the Turkish team could not find the back of the net.
The match remained goalless until Young Boys capitalized on their chances late in the game. The first half ended without any goals, and Galatasaray’s attempts to dominate the second half were largely unsuccessful. The substitutions of Hakim Ziyech and Leo Dubois at halftime did little to change the flow of the game.
With this result, Galatasaray will now continue their European journey in the UEFA Europa League. This marks a disappointment for the Turkish club, which had aimed to reach the lucrative Champions League group stage, where a participation fee of 18.62 million euros awaited, with additional bonuses for victories and draws.
This match was Galatasaray’s 318th appearance in European competitions, adding to a record that includes 113 wins, 120 losses, and 84 draws.
The elimination also cuts short Galatasaray’s chance to benefit from the financial windfall of participating in the newly formatted 36-team Champions League. The Istanbul giants will now focus on their Europa League campaign as they seek to make a mark on the continental stage.
