Manchester United’s woes at Old Trafford show no sign of abating as they suffered another disappointing loss, marking a worrying trend of frequent defeats on their home turf. This time, they let slip a lead twice, ultimately succumbing to a 3-2 defeat against Galatasaray in their second Group A match of the season.
The match should have been a celebration of Rasmus Hojlund’s performance, as the young talent scored twice for the Red Devils in the 17th and 67th minutes, putting them in the lead. However, former United player Wilfried Zaha found the net for Galatasaray in the 23rd minute, setting the stage for a dramatic turn of events.
In the final 20 minutes of the match, Manchester United’s composure completely unraveled, with goalkeeper Andre Onana having a particularly chaotic display. Galatasaray’s Kerem Arturkoglu scored a crucial equalizer in the 71st minute, and Mauro Icardi, who had earlier missed a penalty, redeemed himself with an 81st-minute winner.
It was a disheartening sight to witness Manchester United’s unraveling, marked by loose passes, subpar goalkeeping, and a lack of control, especially after taking the lead for the second time.
The defeat held additional significance as it marked Galatasaray’s first-ever victory in England after 11 attempts and their first away win in the competition in a decade, excluding qualifiers.
Manchester United had started the match on a positive note, taking the lead with an impressive move that culminated in Hojlund’s headed goal following Marcus Rashford’s precise cross. However, as has become a troubling pattern, their confidence quickly gave way to nerves, casting doubt on their home-ground dominance.
Diogo Dalot’s error, reminiscent of controlling a balloon, allowed Zaha to capitalize and score for Galatasaray, leveling the score. The away supporters, who had been vocal throughout the match, erupted with joy.
In the second half, coach Ten Hag introduced Christian Eriksen to aid Casemiro in midfield creativity, hoping to regain control. A golden opportunity presented itself when Rashford was sent through on goal, but a misjudged decision saw the chance slip away.
Hojlund had a goal disallowed just before the hour mark, as replays confirmed he was offside when he received the pass from Mount. Nonetheless, Hojlund remained alert throughout the match.
His moment came when Sergio Oliveira’s errant pass fell to him, and Hojlund sprinted nearly half the field, leaving Abdulkerim Bardaki in his wake. He calmly chipped the ball over Fernando Muslera to put Manchester United back in front.
However, their lead lasted a mere four minutes, as defensive lapses allowed Akturkoglu to equalize for Galatasaray. In the 78th minute, Galatasaray earned a penalty after Onana’s poor distribution led to a foul on Dries Mertens. Casemiro received his second yellow card, resulting in a red card and leaving United with ten men.
Icardi, looking to make amends for his previous penalty miss, disappointingly missed the target again from the spot. Yet, just three minutes later, he redeemed himself with a chip over Onana after a powerful header from Davinson Sanchez.
The final whistle was met with familiar boos from the disgruntled home crowd, reflecting the frustration and disappointment of another lackluster performance at Old Trafford.
Manchester United performance and stats
Manchester United is currently 10th in the Premier League with 9 points.
In the last 7 games, it has won 3 times and lost 4 times. In its last match, Manchester United lost 0-1 against Crystal Palace.
It has a negative goal difference after scoring 7 goals and conceding 11.
Manchester United will play the next match in Premier League against Brentford on Saturday 7th of October in Manchester. The prediction is Manchester United winning the match.
Galatasaray performance and stats
Galatasaray is currently 2nd in the Super Lig with 19 points.
In the last 7 games, it has won 6 times and drawn once. In its last match, Galatasaray won 2-1 against Ankaragücü.
It has a positive goal difference after scoring 14 goals and conceding 4.
Galatasaray will play the next match in Super Lig against Antalyaspor on Saturday 7th of October in Antalya. The prediction is Galatasaray winning the match.