Batrakov Scores Twice in Three Minutes as Galatasaray Beat Stuttgart 2-0

Aleksey Batrakov scored twice in three minutes and Galatasaray beat VfB Stuttgart 2-0 at Rams Park in Istanbul on Tuesday, November 3, in Matchday 4 of the Champions League league phase. Batrakov struck in the 12th and 15th minutes to put the home side in control early. Stuttgart pushed hard after the break, hit the crossbar and had a goal ruled out by VAR, but they left Istanbul with no points and their first defeat of this Champions League campaign.

Two goals in three minutes

Stuttgart nearly scored first. Maximilian Mittelstädt crossed from the left to an unmarked Jamie Leweling at the far post, and Leweling met the ball first time and steered it back across goal. His shot hit the inside of the left post, then the inside of the right post, and bounced out.

Galatasaray took the lead moments later, in the 12th minute. Roland Sallai reached the byline inside the Stuttgart area and dug out a cross to the far post. Jeff Chabot got to the ball first, but his attempted clearance fell straight to Batrakov, who smashed it into the top right corner.

Three minutes later it was 2-0. Davinson Sanchez sent Batrakov charging down the right, and Batrakov burst into the box and aimed a low shot at Fabian Bredlow that went between the goalkeeper's legs. Galatasaray held that 2-0 score at half time.

Stuttgart lose Karazor and keep pushing

Stuttgart's night got harder early. Atakan Karazor was booked for a late challenge on Mario Lemina, then picked up a knock and could not continue. He was replaced in the 18th minute by 19 year old Spalt in the centre of midfield.

The visitors did not fold. Leweling met a Chris Führich cross on the volley and sent it high, Führich stayed lively down the left, and Victor Osimhen needed a vital block from Ramon Hendriks at the other end just before the break, after Osimhen latched onto a through pass and burst into the box.

Cakir holds the line in the second half

Stuttgart looked more composed in possession after the restart, but Galatasaray goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır kept them out. He held a low snapshot from Bilal El Khannouss in the 59th minute and stretched full length to deny Deniz Undav, who turned and shot from the edge of the area. Osimhen forced a save from Bredlow at the other end after a one two between Yunus Akgün and Barış Alper Yılmaz.

The closest Stuttgart came was the disallowed goal. Undav rattled a shot off the crossbar from the edge of the area, Stuttgart retrieved the second ball, and Führich put the follow up in the net. A VAR review ruled the goal out because Undav had been offside in the build up.

Stuttgart still had one more clear chance. Substitute Dženan Pejčinović was sent clean through in the 86th minute, but Çakır rushed off his line and saved with his feet. Leroy Sané then broke clear for Galatasaray, only for Mittelstädt to track back and make a last ditch sliding tackle.

Chris Kavanagh was the referee. Kickoff was 17:45 UTC. TNT Sports reported during the match that a third goal would seal Galatasaray's second victory of the league phase. They did not need it. The 2-0 win was sealed by the two early Batrakov goals and by Çakır's second half saves.