Galatasaray S.K. secured a slender but valuable 1–0 victory over Liverpool F.C. in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash in Istanbul, leaving the English side with a deficit to overturn in the return leg at Anfield.
The decisive moment arrived early in the contest when Mario Lemina rose highest to head home in the seventh minute, capitalising on a well executed corner routine that exposed Liverpool’s ongoing vulnerability from set pieces this season.
The move began when Gabriel Sara delivered a dangerous corner into the penalty area.
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Victor Osimhen flicked the ball on at the near post, allowing Lemina to attack the delivery unmarked and guide a precise header past stand in goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
The Georgian shot stopper was starting in place of injured first choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
The goal marked Lemina’s first of the season and added another memorable moment to his history against Liverpool, having previously scored a decisive winner at Anfield for Fulham F.C. in a Premier League encounter five years earlier.
Galatasaray thought they had doubled their lead shortly afterwards when Osimhen capitalised on a defensive lapse from Ibrahima Konaté and finished from close range.
However, the goal was ruled out after VAR judged Barış Alper Yılmaz to be offside during the build up.
Liverpool also saw a goal disallowed after a chaotic corner situation.
A delivery from Dominik Szoboszlai caused confusion inside the penalty area and the ball was eventually forced into the net.
Following a lengthy VAR review, the effort was ruled out for handball against Konaté.
Despite the early setback, Liverpool created several chances to level the score.
Florian Wirtz came close after capitalising on a mistake by Galatasaray goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır, sending his effort narrowly wide.
The German playmaker later forced Çakır into a strong save, while Konaté fired another effort just over the crossbar.
At the other end, Mamardashvili produced a crucial stop to deny former Tottenham Hotspur F.C. defender Davinson Sánchez from extending Galatasaray’s advantage.
Liverpool continued to push forward in search of an equaliser but struggled to convert their attacking pressure into goals.
Çakır again proved decisive when he stretched out to deny Hugo Ekitike after the striker broke through and attempted a delicate chip.
The Reds thought they had salvaged a late equaliser during another frantic goalmouth scramble, only for VAR to intervene once again and rule out the effort, leaving Arne Slot’s men empty handed on a frustrating night in Istanbul.
The result gives Galatasaray a narrow advantage ahead of the decisive second leg at Anfield on March 18, where Liverpool must overturn the one goal deficit to keep their Champions League hopes alive.
