Unbelievable! Galatasaray stun Barcelona in Champions League
What a shock in Istanbul! Barcelona's perfect start to the season has come under serious threat.
Details: Galatasaray have taken a surprise 1-0 lead against Barcelona in their Champions League league-phase clash on October 13. Russian midfielder Aleksey Batrakov opened the scoring in the 28th minute, sending the home crowd at RAMS Park into celebration. The goal has been confirmed by Barcelona's official match centre.
This is a remarkable development considering the Catalans' extraordinary form heading into the encounter. Hansi Flick's side had won all nine competitive matches this season, scoring an astonishing 39 goals in the process.
Barcelona began their Champions League campaign with a dominant 5-1 victory over Feyenoord, while Galatasaray suffered a 3-1 defeat against Sporting CP. The contrasting results had made the Spanish giants overwhelming favourites for the clash in Istanbul.
Flick made an unexpected tactical decision before the match, deploying Dani Olmo as a false nine, with Anthony Gordon and Lamine Yamal operating on the wings. Brazilian forward Raphinha was unavailable because of a muscle injury.
However, it was Batrakov who delivered the breakthrough for the Turkish champions, putting Barcelona in the unfamiliar position of having to chase the game.
It is worth noting that Galatasaray signed the Russian midfielder from Lokomotiv Moscow in August 2026 for €25 million. The 21-year-old signed a five-year contract with the Istanbul club.
Reminder: Bad news for Barcelona! Will Raphinha play in the next match?
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
