Davinson Sánchez, right, celebrates his goal with a Galatasaray teammate.
The Galatasaray team secured a narrow victory against Dynamo Kyiv on Tuesday on matchday seven of the Europa League group stage for the 2024/25 season.
Under the leadership of Okan Buruk, the Turkish club triumphed at home thanks to an impressive goal from Colombian defender Davinson Sánchez. This goal marks Sánchez’s seventh for the ‘Lions’, who continue to show excellent form.
Galatasaray entered RAMS Park looking for a win after three consecutive draws, including a 1-1 against AZ Alkmaar and a 2-2 against Malmö FF. Although they remained undefeated, these draws had hampered their position in the standings.
Sánchez’s shot in the fifth minute allowed the hosts to temporarily climb to third place in their group. This victory was crucial to reinforce their ambitions of progression towards the next round of the competition.
-The goal came early in the match, following a corner taken by Dries Mertens. The Belgian delivered a precise cross into the area, where Sánchez, taking advantage of his height and positioning, outpaced the defenders and placed a powerful header that left Dynamo goalkeeper Ruslan Neshcheret helpless. The goal sparked euphoria in the stadium, and the Colombian defender fervently celebrated his contribution to the team.
Sánchez, who joined Galatasaray from Tottenham Hotspur, is enjoying his best season since arriving in Türkiye. With four goals and an assist so far this campaign, the 28-year-old defender is back to his best. This season, he also stood out for his offensive contributions, which did not escape the technical staff of the Colombian national team, who were satisfied with his development.
With the goal, Sánchez equals his personal record for most goals in a single season with Ajax, where he had found the net seven times in 47 appearances. His ability to be impactful in the defensive and offensive phases continues to strengthen, and his contribution to Okan Buruk’s squad becomes more and more essential. As the Europa League group stage progresses, Galatasaray remain firmly in contention for qualification, with the Colombian emerging as a key player in their quest for that goal.
