Galatasaray, the reigning champion of Turkey, finally scored its first goal of the Champions League group stage, a couple days before Turkey Day in the United States. Adem Büyük scored one of the most unique goals you will ever see to keep Galatasaray’s hopes of reaching the Europa League alive with a 1-1 draw against Club Brugge on Tuesday.
But what Club Brugge did after its late equalizer made the match a perfect playoff for the Europa League.
Coming into the fifth match day, Galatasaray had no goals while allowing eight. With a prior 0-0 draw with Club Brugge, the Turkish side had one point before Tuesday but remained alive for a third-place finish in the group.
Galatasaray vs Club Brugge Highlights
Adem Büyük finally broke the Turkey team’s duck in the 11th minute at Türk Telekom Stadi. Omer Bayram sent a low cross into the box toward Büyük, who flicked the ball into the air while simultaneously falling to one knee. In one motion, Büyük stood up and lashed a clean volley past former Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet for a stunner.
That flick, though pic.twitter.com/ccld82dRBG
— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 26, 2019
We’re pretty sure if Philippe Clement had opted to start Ethan Horvath in goal, the American would have made the save, but that’s only because we believe Americans are infallible on the soccer pitch, so take nothing away from Büyük.
But Galatasaray couldn’t hang on to the lead.
In the 92nd minute, Krépin Diatta equalized with a deflected effort. Then he and teammate Clinton Mata were sent off.
Club Brugge equalizes in stoppage time
Two red cards in the celebration
Worth it pic.twitter.com/oTnQydNi0m— Bleacher Report Live (@brlive) November 26, 2019
Diatta took his shirt off and, having already been given one yellow, was handed his marching orders with a second caution. Mata had also been shown yellow earlier in the match and saw red after he kicked the corner flag too violently for the referee’s liking.
RIP this corner flag pic.twitter.com/cXTTKQfMnA
— Bleacher Report Live (@brlive) November 26, 2019
You really can’t take your shirt off when you’re on a yellow as Diatta did, but you have to feel a little bad for Mata. Plenty of players have kicked corner flags without being booked.
Fortunately for Club Brugge, it was able to hold on to a vital 1-1 draw despite playing with 10 men for the final three minutes.
In the final match day of Group A, Galatasaray travels to play at PSG while Club Brugge hosts Real Madrid. Neither Club Brugge nor Galatasaray will have high hopes of getting a result from their final UCL matches, giving the Belgian side the inside track at reaching the Europa League, currently in third with three points compared to Galatasaray’s two. Then again, Club Brugge held Los Blancos to a 2-2 draw in Madrid back in October.
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