Victor Osimhen’s first-half penalty secured Galatasaray a 1-0 Champions League victory over Liverpool on Tuesday night in Istanbul.
The Nigerian striker converted from the spot after Baris Alper Yilmaz was adjudged to have been caught in the face by Dominik Szoboszlai’s trailing hand. The goal delivered only Galatasaray’s second win in 19 group-stage matches and a strong response to their opening defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt.
Liverpool, despite dominating possession, struggled to create clear chances and were repeatedly exposed in defence. Manager Arne Slot, who suffered consecutive defeats for only the second time in his tenure, admitted his side were guilty of errors and lacked creativity.
Osimhen remained a constant threat, missing two opportunities after the break before limping off with an injury. He was also denied by Alisson Becker, who later left the match after picking up a knock.
Liverpool briefly thought they had salvaged a point when referee Clément Turpin awarded an 89th-minute penalty for a foul on Ibrahima Konaté, but the decision was overturned after a VAR review.
Slot defended his decision to start Mohamed Salah on the bench until the 62nd minute but expressed frustration at Galatasaray’s physical style. “It was difficult to build rhythm,” he said, while conceding the defeat was “largely self-inflicted.”
The result sparked jubilant celebrations at Rams Park, with Galatasaray reaffirming their determination to compete in Europe. For Liverpool, the loss raised renewed concerns over their defensive vulnerabilities and attacking sharpness as their continental campaign continues.
