Galatasaray beat Stuttgart 2-0 in Istanbul for VfB's first Champions League defeat

Early goals decide the match

On Tuesday, 3 November, Galatasaray hosted VfB Stuttgart in Istanbul in matchday four of the Champions League league phase and won 2-0. Stuttgart had started the competition with two wins and a draw, so this was its first defeat in the tournament. The home side set the tone in the opening quarter hour. Alexey Batrakov put them ahead in the 12th minute, then doubled the lead in the 15th by driving a cross-body shot between the legs of goalkeeper Fabian Bredlow. That scoreline stood until the final whistle.

Stuttgart's chances and a disallowed goal

Stuttgart started brightly, and Jamie Leweling had the first big chance in the 8th minute, when his shot struck both posts after a cross from Maximilian Mittelstädt. The first goal came from a poorly executed clearance by Jeff Chabot, and Batrakov added the second only three minutes later by beating Bredlow through the legs. Bredlow, who had been preferred to Dennis Seimen in goal, made a save to deny Batrakov again in the 22nd minute. Atakan Karazor was replaced in the 17th minute by Yanik Spalt, a 19-year-old Austrian, and the visitors steadied themselves for a while. In the second half Stuttgart created enough openings to have taken at least a point, but their finishing let them down. Chris Führich's late strike was ruled out for offside, and the result remained 2-0.

Atmosphere in Istanbul

The stadium was loud from the first whistle, and the Stuttgart players were booed throughout the match. The game carried a high level of intensity, and a brief scuffle broke out on the touchline after a challenge between Chris Führich and Baris Yilmaz. Former national team players Leroy Sané and Ilkay Gündogan were on the Galatasaray bench and did not take part. Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeneß saw his side's defensive weaknesses and problems in front of goal exposed by the hosts' pace on the counterattack.

League phase standings

The defeat leaves Stuttgart seventh in the table with 7 points, while Galatasaray move provisionally up to 14th with 6 points. Stuttgart's next league-phase match is against Inter Milan on 25 November. Galatasaray host Aston Villa in matchday five. The table after matchday four shows the gap between the two sides is small.

Sporting Lisbon9

Stuttgart7

Galatasaray6

Shakhtar Donetsk4

Sporting Lisbon

9 points

Stuttgart

7 points

Galatasaray

6 points

Shakhtar Donetsk

4 points

Data from the article text

Sporting and Shakhtar in London

In the other fixture, Sporting Lisbon beat Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 without the injured Zeno Debast. Issa Doumbia scored the only goal of the match in the 59th minute. The game was played in London, where Shakhtar are playing their home matches in exile. Sporting had lost 2-3 to LASK in its previous matchday, and this win lifts it to fifth place with 9 points. Shakhtar, now 18th with 4 points, host Fenerbahce on 25 November.