This was not the big performance or result Barcelona wanted in the last 16 first leg against a stubborn Galatasaray, determined to head back to Istanbul without a deficit.
2021/2022 UEFA Europa League
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Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
27' Depay's free kick stopped by goalkeeper
29' Yellow Card! Kutlu booked
34' Yellow Card! Depay booked
36' Akturkoglu's shot over the bar
41' Depay's long shot stopped
57' Busquets' header stopped by goalkeeper
62' Alba's long shot wide out
72' Traore's shot wide out
75' CLOSE! De Jong hits the post
78' OFFSIDE! Gomis’ goal disallowed
Xavi took the opportunity to bring in Memphis Depay after his recent goals from the bench and Eric Garcia came in for Gerard Pique. Nico Gonzalez was named as part of the midfield trio, with Sergio Busquets afforded a rest.
The tight win over Elche at the weekend could be put down to the hosts defensive display, but even though Galatasaray were similarly defensive it would be too kind to Barcelona to suggest that was the case again.
The Turkish side, 12th in their domestic division, were given an easy ride in the first half, with Xavi’s men failing to create anything of note.
The closest they came were a couple of Memphis Depay digs from distance. One a free kick tipped wide by Inaki Pena, the other a curler from distance.
Xavi did not like what he saw and made changes at half-time. In came Gerard Pique, Ousmane Dembele and Sergio Busquets, with Ronald Araujo, Ferran Torres and Nico Gonzalez making way.
The Catalans improved a little after the break, with Frenkie de Jong coming closest with an effort that hit the post after substitute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s overhead kick fell into his path. That was as close as they got, though.
With the second leg in Istanbul coming just three days before the Clasico, this result is far from ideal.
Line-ups
Barcelona XI: Alba, Ter Stegen, Depay, Traore, De Jong, Ferran Torres, Ronald Araujo, Eric Garcia, Dest, Nico González, Pedri
Subs: Pique, Aubameyang, Busquets, Luuk de Jong, Neto, Braithwaite, Lenglet, Dembele, Arnau Tenas, Riqui Puig, Óscar Mingueza
Galatasaray XI: Babel, Feghouli, Van Aanholt, Antalyalı, Teixeira, Pena, V. Nelsson, K. Aktürkoğlu, Mostafa Mohamed, Sacha Boey, B. Kutlu
Subs: B. Gomis, Muslera, Bayram, A. Öztürk, Pulgar, E. Kılınç, İ. Çipe, A. Cicâldău, O. Moruțan, H. Dervişoğlu, B. Yılmaz, I. Arslan