The only change in Galatasaray

Galatasaray’s head coach Okan Buruk made a single change in the lineup against Tottenham compared to the last match played against Beşiktaş.

In the 4th week of the UEFA Europa League, Galatasaray is facing the English team Tottenham at home. Galatasaray’s head coach Okan Buruk made a single change in the lineup against Tottenham compared to the last match played against Beşiktaş. Buruk assigned Dries Mertens to the starting position instead of Roland Sallai.

In the yellow-reds, Hungarian footballer Roland Sallai was not included in the UEFA list, and Senegalese player Ismail Jakobs was also absent from the squad due to injury.

Change in the system

Head coach Okan Buruk started the match against Tottenham with a 3-5-2 formation. Buruk, who has often started with a double striker this season, assigned Mauro Icardi and Victor Osimhen to the forward positions against the English team. Galatasaray had played in a 4-4-2 formation in their last match against Beşiktaş.

Fernando Muslera returned to goal

Galatasaray’s Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, who received a red card in the UEFA Champions League playoff second leg match against Young Boys and was banned for 3 matches, returned to goal in the match against Tottenham. In Muslera’s absence, Günay Güvenç played in goal against PAOK, RFS, and Elfsborg.

A plaque was given to Dries Mertens

Before the match, Galatasaray President Dursun Özbek presented a plaque and a jersey with the number 100 written on it to Dries Mertens, who played his 100th official match for the yellow-reds in the Beşiktaş derby. The fans also cheered for Mertens.

Galatasaray’s lineup

The yellow-reds started the match with: Fernando Muslera, Davinson Sanchez, Kaan Ayhan, Abdülkerim Bardakcı, Barış Alper Yılmaz, Lucas Torreira, Gabriel Sara, Yunus Akgün, Dries Mertens, Victor Osimhen, and Mauro Icardi.

On the bench were: Batuhan Şen, Günay Güvenç, Kerem Demirbay, Berkan Kutlu, Hakim Ziyech, Elias Jelert, Victor Nelsson, Yusuf Demir, Michy Batshuayi, Ali Yeşilyurt, Efe Akman, and Metehan Baltacı.

Full support from the fans

Galatasaray fans did not leave their team alone in the match against Tottenham. In the match played at RAMS Park, yellow-red fans filled the stands. Before the match, the fans called the players one by one to the stands to show their support. The English fans also took their place in the away section.

Support banners for Palestine opened in the stands

Galatasaray fans also reacted to Israel’s attacks on Palestine. The yellow-red fans opened banners in the stands saying ‘Freedom for Palestine’, ‘Palestine genocide’, and ‘Long live Gazan babies’.