Can Galatasaray equal record for Super Lig clubs in Champions League?

Second leg at Anfield 

It was a famous night for Galatasaray as they inflicted a 1-0 defeat on Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 clash. The atmosphere was electric in the notoriously hostile RAMS park as the home faithful unleashed a Tifo display dedicated to Victor Osimhen and his mother, which made the Nigerian striker cry. Gala fans famously embrace the slogan ‘welcome to hell’ and Liverpool endured a nightmare when Mario Lemina opened the scoring on seven minutes.

Remarkably, it was the 10th goal that Liverpool have conceded from corners in all competitions this season and it wasn’t an evening to remember for Arne Slot on his 100th game in charge. The pressure is ramping on the Dutch manager and it could have been worse as Osimhen had a goal ruled out when Barış Alper Yılmaz was adjudged to have blocked Andy Robertson from an offside position. Liverpool also had a goal ruled out for handball against Ibrahima Konaté to leave the tie delicately poised ahead of the second leg at Anfield next Wednesday.

Can Galatasaray reach the Champions League quarter-finals?

It’s effectively only half-time in the tie and Liverpool are still overwhelming favourites to emerge victorious at Anfield next week. Galatasaray almost blew a three-goal advantage in the play-off round when ten-man Juventus fought back from a 5-2 defeat in the first-leg to take the tie into extra-time with a 3-0 win after 90 minutes at home.

Liverpool will be confident of overturning the one-goal deficit at one of the most iconic venues in Europe and their squad is significantly stronger than Gala. But the Super Lig giants will be motivated by the prospect of equaling history for Turkish clubs in the Champions League. Since the rebrand in 1992, Turkish clubs have only reached the quarter finals of European football’s most prestigious club competition on three occasions. Galatasaray have managed it on two previous occasions in 2001 and 2013 with their arch rivals Fenerbahce matching the achievement in 2008.