Galatasaray have taken a one-goal lead into the second leg of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie after beating Liverpool 1-0 in the first leg at Rams Park on Tuesday, with Victor Osimhen setting up the only goal of the match.
The Nigerian striker headed a corner kick across goal in the seventh minute for Mario Lemina to nod into the net past goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, and that was all the hosts needed to claim victory.
Liverpool pressed for an equaliser throughout the game but could not find a way past the Galatasaray defence. Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitiké were the visitors’ most dangerous players, yet neither could make the breakthrough.
Osimhen wasted two good chances to extend Galatasaray’s lead during the first half, heading wide when unmarked before missing another opportunity from close range.
Liverpool started the second half brightly and came close to equalising when Alexis Mac Allister hit the ball just wide of the post. But Galatasaray remained dangerous on the counter-attack and continued to threaten.
Salah was taken off after an hour, and Galatasaray had a goal disallowed for offside shortly after. Liverpool also had a goal ruled out, this time for a handball by Ibrahima Konaté, while Ekitiké missed a one-on-one chance late in the game.
Neither side scored again, and Galatasaray held on to win.
The two teams meet again at Anfield next week, where Liverpool must win to progress. Despite the defeat, Liverpool will take confidence from the fact that they need only score once without reply to turn the tie around.
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