Galatasaray 3-2 Tottenham Hotspur Player Ratings: Osimhen & Mertens duo powers Turks to spectacular win

In the exciting UEFA Europa League encounter, The Turkish Super League outfit Galatasaray stunned Premier League’s Tottenham Hotspur claiming a dominating 3-2 triumph over the side from the English capital backed by electrifying home support at Rams Park Stadium.

The Yellow and Red were in cruise control of the game for the first 45-minute mark scoring goals, the goals arrived from Yunus Akgün, and a brace from Nigerian star forward Victor Osimhen proved enough for the hosts to clinch all three points. Meanwhile, battling with the hostile and intimidating home crowd, the Spurs responded with goals in reply courtesy of Dominic Solanke and teenager Will Lankshear who eventually got sent after Red card leaving Tottenham one man down.

With the resounding win, Galatasaray extends their unbeaten steak in Europe and the Turkish league and takes the first position in the Europa League points table with 10 points after 4 games. Tottenham suffered their first loss in the Europa League campaign and dropped to 5th spot with 9 points in hand.

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Galatasaray Player Ratings vs Tottenham Hotspur

Goalkeeper

Fernando Muslera (6.5/10)

The Gala captain returned after serving his suspension and made a few good saves but conceded two goals as well. But commanded the team with his leadership skills from the back.

Defenders

Davinson Sánchez (7/10)

He was beaming in confidence against his former team playing effortlessly in a three-man backline. Sanchez was pivotal in defensive actions such as interceptions and duels.

Kaan Ayhan (6.5/10)

He had a 100% success rate in duels and offered equal contributions in both defence and offence, playing vertical passes into the final third, even creating a chance too.

Abdülkerim Bardakci (7/10)

The 30-year-old centre-back was solid at the backline in making interceptions, and blocks on top of that he had registered two shots on target

Midfielders

Baris Alper Yilmaz (7/10)

He dominated the right flank, drifting deep on the flanks to trouble the Spurs by getting into their 18-yard box and creating two chances while attempting a few shots also.

Lucas Torreira (7/10)

The Uruguayan midfielder had a decent outing controlling the midfield of Galatasaray winning the battles in the middle of the park and initiating quick attacks.

Gabriel Sara (7/10)

The Brazilian teamed up well with fellow South American midfielder Torreira and dominated the midfield offering a phenomenal workrate in attack and defense.

Yunus Akgün (8.5/10)

He opened the goal-scoring with his half-volley strike from outside of the box to find the top right corner of the net, leaving no chance for Tottenham’s keeper. Akgun has now four goals in as many outings in the competition.

Dries Mertens (8.7/10)

The Belgian was top-notch in his playmaking duties, playing the number ten role and operating right behind the two strikers. His vision and passing excellence plucked two assists, one to Victor Osimhen with a delicate through ball and looped a cross to find Osimehn running between the two centre-backs.

Forwards

Victor Osimhen (9/10)

The Napoli loanee came close to scoring on many occasions, one of his goals was ruled offside in the 29th minute. Nonetheless, Osimehn never gave up on his ambitions of punishing Spur’s defense and restored Galatasaray’s lead slotting home the two goals within 10 minutes for the Turks.

Mauro Icardi (6/10)

Icardi took 7 shots but none on target, nevertheless, his striking partner’s overpowered performance was enough for his side to triumph over the English opposition. Picked up an injury and was taken off on a stretcher in the 85th minute of the game.

Substitutes

Hakim Ziyech (6.5/10)

Elias Jelert (6/10)

Kerem Demirbay (6.3/10)

Berkan Kutlu (N/A)

Michy Batshuayi (N/A)

Manager

Okan Buruk (8.5/10)

The Turkish tactician outclassed Tottenham Hotspur’s boss as his side showed unwavering attacking intent dominating the possession and goal on attempts. They piled up the pressure on the opposition defence to the point where they fell apart leaking three goals. Though, Galatasaray looked a bit shaky in defence organising the defence.

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Tottenham Hotspur Player Ratings vs Galatasaray

Goalkeeper

Fraser Forster (5/10)

He was shaky in ball handling and leaked three goals although the all goals were beyond his reach to attempt to make saves. He was poor in other aspects of his game as well such as ball distribution and passing.

Defenders

Pedro Porro (7/10)

He played his natural game of attacking full-back and got an assist for creating a great chance for substitute Solanke for the second Spurs goal.

Radu Dragusin (4/10)

He earned another Europa League start in the backline but failed to contain Victor Osimhen’s movements and his continuous lapse in concentration even cost Spurs a goal. He also picked up a yellow card.

Ben Davies (4/10)

A poor display of defensive output from Davis as well as pairing up with Dragusin, the Englishman rigorously under constant pressure coming on from Osimehen while guarding the goal.

Archie Gray (7/10)

The teenager’s highlight of the game was a precise delivery to find Brennan Johnson on the right to produce an assist for the equaliser, he needs to improve his defensive game.

Midfielders

James Maddison (6/10)

Expectations were high from the English playmaker considering his quality but failed to make any significant impact in the game.

Yves Bissouma (7/10)

He worked really hard in the midfield and regularly helped out the defence in clearing out dangers with a 100% success rate in tackles and also carried the ball in tight spaces.

Lucas Bergvall (6/10)

A learning experience for one of the three teenagers in the Spurs’ first eleven. He did not get enough ball to show his skills.

Forwards

Brennan Johnson (7/10)

The Welsh winger made the perfect run to connect to Archie Gray’s stunning pass, guiding the pass in front Lankshear with a one-touch pass to assist the equaliser.

Will Lankshear (7.5/10)

it was only his second appearance, the 19-year-old bagged his first-ever goal for the senior team in front of a packed unfriendly Istanbul crowd and pulled Spurs back in the contest and his first of many for the club with an easy tap-in to Johnson’s pass from the right. Got sent off following two Yellow card offences.

Heung-Min Son (6/10)

The Spurs captain was named on the starting eleven despite weighty doubts and looked completely off and unsettled on the left flank. In the second half, Postecoglou called him back to the bench replacing him with Kulusevski

Substitutes

Dominic Solanke (7.7/10)

Solanke netted the second goal for his side with a clever finish to Pedro Porro’s low cross right in front of goal.

Dejan Kulusevski (6.5/10)

Rodrigo Bentancur (7/10)

Pape Sarr (6/10)

Manager

Ange Postecoglou (6/10)

The squad selection was somewhat questionable, his decision to start Heuing Min Son didn’t go well and even the substitutions were not like for like forcing many players to play out of position. It became challenging for Postecoglu to manage the game with just 10 men and Spurs failed miserably in their efforts to build from the back.

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