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In the first leg of the round of 16 of the 2025-2026 UEFA Champions League season, the highest-level club competition in European football, Turkish representative Galatasaray will face English side Liverpool. The first match will be held on Tuesday 10 March at 20:45 at the RAMS Park stadium in Istanbul. The second leg is scheduled for Wednesday 18 March 2026 at the Anfield stadium in England.
In the first leg of the round of 16 of the 2025-2026 UEFA Champions League season, Turkish representative Galatasaray has been drawn against English side Liverpool. The match officials have been appointed by UEFA, with Jesús Gil Manzano from the Royal Spanish Football Federation serving as the central referee. Assistant referees will be Angel Nevado and Guadalupe Porras Ayuso, while Juan Martinez Munuera has been named the fourth official. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team will consist of Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez and his assistant Valentin Gomez. The second and decisive leg of this tie is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 18 March 2026 at the Anfield stadium in England.
Under the new system in which thirty-six teams compete under a single league format, Galatasaray finished twentieth in the league phase with three wins, one draw and four losses, earning a place in the play-off round. In the play-off, they were drawn against Italian side Juventus. Galatasaray won the first leg at home 5-2 and lost the away leg 3-2 after extra time, but advanced to the round of 16 on a 7-5 aggregate goal advantage. As a result of this tie, Galatasaray became the first team in UEFA Champions League history to score seven goals against Juventus across a two-legged knockout tie. Additionally, the yellow and red club has progressed from all twelve of its European cup elimination ties in which it won its first leg by a margin of three or more goals.
On the other hand, Liverpool, under head coach Arne Slot, finished the league phase with six wins and two losses from eight matches. With the points accumulated, the English side placed third among the thirty-six teams and advanced directly to the round of 16 without entering the play-off round. This season, Liverpool suffered defeats only against Galatasaray and PSV Eindhoven in the league phase.
UEFA Champions League second matchday Galatasaray-Liverpool match (AA)
Galatasaray and Liverpool have met five times in European competition, all within the UEFA Champions League. Galatasaray won two of these matches, Liverpool won one, and two ended in draws. Their first encounter occurred in the 2001-2002 season during the second group stage; the match in England ended goalless, while the return leg in Istanbul concluded 1-1. In their second meeting during the 2006-2007 group stage, each team won their home match 3-2.
The most recent encounter between the two clubs took place in the second matchday of the current 2025-2026 league phase in Istanbul, where Galatasaray won 1-0. Galatasaray has never lost to Liverpool in three home matches, scoring a total of five goals and conceding three.
With this fixture, Galatasaray will make their 339th appearance in European competition. In their previous 338 matches, the club has recorded 120 wins, 90 draws and 128 defeats, scoring 467 goals and conceding 514. Having competed in 18 seasons of the Champions League to date, Galatasaray has reached the round of 16 for the 11th time, the highest number among all Turkish clubs.
Galatasaray statistics (generated by artificial intelligence)
Looking at Galatasaray’s historical performance against English teams, they have played 26 matches against clubs including West Bromwich Albion, Manchester United, Chelsea, Leeds United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City. In these matches, Galatasaray has recorded six wins, nine draws and eleven losses, scoring 29 goals and conceding 48. At home, in thirteen matches, the yellow and red team has achieved five wins, five draws and three losses.
Recent statistics show that in four of Galatasaray’s last five European matches against English teams, they have remained undefeated (three wins, one draw). Additionally, the club has won six of its last ten home matches in European competitions, drawn three and lost only once.
Liverpool, one of England’s most historic clubs, has won 14 international trophies to date. Four of these are from the European Cup, the predecessor of the current UEFA Champions League, and two are from the current Champions League format. Liverpool has faced Turkish clubs thirteen times in UEFA competitions: five matches against Galatasaray, four against Beşiktaş and four against Trabzonspor. In these thirteen matches, Liverpool has scored 22 goals and conceded 12.
This season, under Dutch head coach Arne Slot, Liverpool stands sixth in the English Premier League after 29 matchdays, with 14 wins, six draws and nine losses, accumulating 48 points and trailing the league leader by 19 points. During the summer transfer window, the club made several high-budget signings to strengthen its squad. Florian Wirtz from Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen was signed for €140 million, Alexander Isak from Newcastle United for €120 million, Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt for €75 million, Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth for €45 million, and Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen for €40 million, bringing the club’s total transfer expenditure beyond half a billion euros.
Galatasaray will field a full squad for the match, with no players unavailable due to injury or suspension. However, Arda Ünyay, Renato Nhaga and Can Armando Güner, who are not included in the official UEFA squad list submitted by head coach Okan Buruk, will not be eligible to play. In terms of disciplinary status, goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır, defenders Ismail Jakobs, Davinson Sanchez and Abdülkerim Bardakcı, and forwards Roland Sallai, Noa Lang and Victor Osimhen, along with head coach Okan Buruk, are all one yellow card away from suspension. If any of these players receive a yellow card in this match, they will be suspended for the return leg in England.
At Liverpool, Swedish forward Alexander Isak will miss the match due to injury. Additionally, Conor Bradley and Curtis Jones are both one yellow card away from suspension. Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk, in his ninth season with the club, continues to serve as captain.
Victor Osimhen (AA)
In terms of individual performance ahead of the match, Galatasaray’s Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen stands out. After scoring goals against Juventus, Osimhen has raised his total European cup goals to 13, surpassing Milan Baros’s 12 goals to become Galatasaray’s all-time top foreign scorer in European competitions. With seven goals this season in the Champions League, Osimhen has the potential to match Burak Yılmaz’s record of eight goals in a single season by a Turkish club player, set in 2012-2013.
Osimhen is also one of only two players this season in the Champions League to register the most accurate shots, with 24, alongside Kylian Mbappé.
Galatasaray’s Barış Alper Yılmaz scored in the 118th minute and first second of the Juventus match, netting the latest goal in the club’s European history. He also became the first Turkish Galatasaray player to both score and provide an assist in the same match during the knockout phase of the Champions League. Goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır, in the same match, made six saves, breaking his personal record in the Champions League. Finally, according to the official UEFA Fantasy Football statistics, the highest-scoring players for their respective teams are Victor Osimhen of Galatasaray (62 points) and Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool (67 points).
Prior to the first leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 match between Galatasaray and Liverpool to be played in Istanbul, press conferences were held with the participation of the technical staff and some players from both teams. These meetings, held at the Kemerburgaz Metin Oktay Facilities and RAMS Park, shared various details with the public regarding the tactical dynamics of the match, squad conditions, fixture congestion, and the teams’ objectives in the competition.
Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk stated that securing a favorable score at home in their first match was their primary objective. Buruk emphasized that fixture congestion would not serve as an excuse, noting that his team is competing in three different competitions—the Süper Lig, the Turkish Cup, and the Champions League. He recalled Galatasaray’s victory over Liverpool during the group stage but predicted that the English side, given their position in the English league, would approach the Champions League with greater motivation and a different strategy on the pitch.
Davinson Sanchez (left) and Okan Buruk (right) (AA)
Attention was drawn to the seven players who are on the brink of a yellow card suspension. It was argued that UEFA’s rule on card clearance should be applied earlier than the semifinal stage, and players were advised to avoid accumulating simple cautions. While Liverpool was generally regarded as the favorite in this round, it was noted that all teams in the competition are capable of eliminating each other, and Galatasaray’s experience from previous rounds provides them with a distinct advantage.
On the other hand, the decision to impose a ban on Galatasaray fans attending the return leg was criticized, and it was confirmed that an official appeal has been filed regarding this matter. Regarding the overall squad situation, it was stated that players signed during the winter transfer window have strengthened the team, and the team has benefited from the versatile performances of players such as Roland Sallai.
Davinson Sanchez Representing the Players emphasized that the team is focused on progressing in the tournament and aims to reflect their development on the pitch. Speaking about the experience gained from being one of the players with the most minutes played in the competition, Sanchez stated that his main goal is to instill self-confidence in his teammates.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot highlighted the significance of reaching his 100th match as a manager against Galatasaray and expressed his respect for the opponent and the Galatasaray technical staff. It was announced that goalkeeper Alisson and Federico Chiesa would be unavailable for this match due to injuries. Regarding the away atmosphere, it was noted that Liverpool had already experienced the intense pressure created by Galatasaray fans during the previous group stage encounter.
Arne Slot (AA)
In terms of tactical analysis, it was noted that Liverpool maintains a high possession rate but occasionally struggles to generate clear scoring opportunities due to the physical and defensively oriented challenges of modern football. When evaluating Galatasaray’s attacking organization, attention was drawn to the opponent’s effectiveness in transition play and the pace of their three forward players.
In particular, Victor Osimhen’s finishing ability and aerial dominance, as well as Barış Alper Yılmaz’s speed, were highlighted as key threats, and it was stated that Liverpool’s defense would need to take specific precautions against these players. It was also noted that Dominik Szoboszlai could be deployed at right-back depending on in-game requirements.
Alexis Mac Allister (AA)
Alexis Mac Allister Wearing the Liverpool Jersey pointed to Lucas Torreira’s playing style in midfield, noting that his physicality and strong ball control make him a challenging opponent. The player also spoke about his on-field chemistry with teammate Szoboszlai and emphasized that winning the Champions League remains Liverpool’s primary objective this season.
Efforts to improve Mohamed Salah’s integration into the team’s system and enhance his performance are ongoing, while Ryan Gravenberch, whose contract has been renewed, was congratulated. It was also clarified that Gravenberch is not currently involved in any contract renewal negotiations.
On 10 March 2026, Galatasaray faced English representatives Liverpool at RAMS Park (Ali Sami Yen Sports Complex) in Istanbul as part of the first leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16. The match was officiated by Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manzano, with assistant referees Angel Nevado and Guadalupe Porras Ayuso. The encounter ended in a 1-0 victory for home team Galatasaray, giving them an advantage ahead of the return leg on 18 March 2026 at Anfield Stadium in England.
Choreography by Galatasaray fans before the match (AA)
Before the match, various visual displays and messages came to the fore in the stands. Liverpool fans, as visitors, unfurled a banner in the stadium bearing the English translation of the phrase attributed to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Republic of Türkiye: “Peace at home, peace in the world.”
Osimhen’s reaction to the choreography prepared for him (AA)
Galatasaray supporters organized a comprehensive choreography in English reading “We are a family and family is everything” in memory of Victor Osimhen’s mother who passed away at a young age.
After the draw for this matchup, former English footballer Jamie Carragher had described Liverpool’s chances of eliminating Galatasaray as 99 percent. Following the 1-0 result, he revised his assessment of his team’s chances of advancing to the next round to 98 percent.
Uğurcan Çakır, Wilfried Singo, Davinson Sanchez, Abdülkerim Bardakcı, Ismail Jakobs, Lucas Torreira, Mario Lemina, Barış Alper Yılmaz, Gabriel Sara, Noa Lang, Victor Osimhen.
Galatasaray starting eleven (AA)
Giorgi Mamardashvili, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Milos Kerkez, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Muhammed Salah, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike
Liverpool starting eleven (AA)
The first half of the match featured an early goal and attacking exchanges from both sides. In the 2nd minute, Szoboszlai’s shot did not find the target. In the 7th minute, Galatasaray took the lead through a corner kick routine from the left flank by Gabriel Sara; Victor Osimhen headed the ball down into the six-yard area where Mario Lemina met it with a header to make it 1-0.
UEFA Champions League Round of 16: Galatasaray - Liverpool first leg (AA)
In the 12th minute, a cross from the left by Ismail Jakobs led to an Osimhen header from the back post that narrowly went out for a corner. In the 16th minute, after a pass from Muhammed Salah, Mac Allister collected the ball near the penalty spot and laid it off to Wirtz, whose shot from the left diagonal of the penalty area was saved by goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır.
In the 21st minute, Noa Lang’s shot from outside the penalty area after receiving a pass from Jakobs was blocked by goalkeeper Mamardashvili for a corner. In the 24th minute, a cross from the left by Gabriel Sara led to a header by Davinson Sanchez, which Mamardashvili pushed away for a corner.
In the 28th minute, a cross from the right by Singo was misjudged by defender Konate; Osimhen followed up with a shot from the left diagonal of the penalty area that narrowly went wide. In the 41st minute, a cross from the right by Ekitike found Kerkez, who delivered the ball into the area to Wirtz, whose header was saved by goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır. The first half ended with the home side leading 1-0.
The second half was marked by disallowed goals and key goalkeeping saves. In the 46th minute, Szoboszlai’s shot from outside the penalty arc was saved by Uğurcan Çakır for a corner. In the 47th minute, a throw-in from the right by Gomez was headed away by Galatasaray’s Abdülkerim Bardakcı, but the ball fell to Mac Allister whose shot struck the post and went out.
In the 56th minute, Abdülkerim Bardakcı’s shot from the left diagonal of the penalty area after receiving a pass from Torreira went wide of the goal. In the 62nd minute, following a through ball from Lemina, Lang played the ball to Osimhen who scored; however, the goal was disallowed for offside. In the 65th minute, after a misplaced backpass by Barış Alper Yılmaz, Ekitike collected the ball and entered the penalty area to face goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır, who timely closed the angle and pushed the shot away for a corner.
UEFA Champions League Round of 16: Galatasaray - Liverpool first leg (AA)
In the 72nd minute, Liverpool scored a goal, but it was disallowed following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review. During a corner kick by Szoboszlai, Konate headed the ball into the net from a scramble in the penalty area; however, referee Jesus Gil Manzano, upon the advice of VAR official Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez, ruled that Konate had handled the ball and disallowed the goal.
In the 78th minute, a free kick by Sara led to a header by Torreira that narrowly went out for a corner. In the 81st minute, a cross from the left by substitute Robertson struck Sanchez and deflected toward goal, but Uğurcan Çakır saved it for a corner. In the 82nd minute, Osimhen’s shot after a pass from Torreira was blocked by goalkeeper Mamardashvili. In the 86th minute, during an attack, Barış Alper Yılmaz played a heel pass to Sara, whose shot from the left diagonal of the penalty area went wide. In the 89th minute, a cross from the right by Szoboszlai found Ekitike in the six-yard area, whose header went over the crossbar. The match ended with a 1-0 victory for Galatasaray.
Mario Lemina, who scored Galatasaray’s only goal in the match, netted his first ever goal in the UEFA Champions League. This goal, scored in the 7th minute, also became the earliest goal Galatasaray has ever scored in the UEFA Champions League knockout stages. Galatasaray goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır made six saves on six shots on target to keep his net clean throughout the match.
With this result, Galatasaray achieved their ninth consecutive unbeaten match at home against English teams in European competitions (six wins, three draws). Galatasaray also became the third team, after Real Madrid and Napoli, to defeat Liverpool three times at home in the UEFA Champions League, matching their record against the English club.
In the updated UEFA country coefficient rankings released after the match, Türkiye maintained its ninth position with 51.475 points.
Okan Buruk post-match press conference (AA)
Galatasaray Head Coach Okan Buruk began his post-match press conference by offering condolences for the late Trabzonspor assistant coach Orhan Kaynak. Buruk stated that it was a source of pride to defeat Liverpool, one of Europe’s leading clubs, twice in the same season, emphasizing that the result was not down to luck but to a well-structured defensive approach. Regarding the return leg, Buruk predicted that the match at Anfield would be far more difficult, noting that Liverpool would likely take special precautions against set pieces. He also expressed his view that the yellow card shown to Davinson Sanchez was an unjust decision.
Arne Slot post-match press conference (AA)
Liverpool Head Coach Arne Slot noted that the defeat mirrored the scenario of their first match against Galatasaray in September. He acknowledged that his team started well but failed to capitalize on clear goal-scoring opportunities. Slot praised Galatasaray’s goalkeeper for his crucial saves and commended the opposition’s defensive resilience. He also commented on Spanish referee Manzano’s decisions, claiming that the referee consistently favored Galatasaray in foul and set-piece calls. Slot added that he believed his team would advance in the return leg at home in front of their own fans.
Mario Lemina, selected by UEFA as the Match Player of the Match emphasized that the result was the product of collective team effort. The Gabonese midfielder, who expressed his dream of playing in the Champions League in a Galatasaray shirt, said the return leg would be extremely challenging and that the away stadium would have a “hellish” atmosphere.
Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen said he was deeply moved by the banners and choreography prepared by the fans before the match. As someone who lost his mother at a young age, he said the support made him feel part of a family.
The match received extensive coverage in European and British media. British outlets including BBC, The Guardian, The Independent, Daily Mail, and The Daily Telegraph reported that their teams had failed to learn from their earlier encounter in September and acknowledged that Galatasaray had deserved the win. These reports detailed the atmosphere at RAMS Park as “deafening” and a “boiling cauldron” for visiting teams.
Post-match celebrations (AA)
In the European press, Spanish newspaper AS reported that Liverpool had surrendered to the chaos in Istanbul; Portugal’s O Jogo declared that Galatasaray had suffocated their opponent. Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport stated that Lemina’s goal had toppled Liverpool, while France’s Le Figaro Sport noted that the English side would need to work extremely hard in the second leg to progress.
In the first leg of the round of 16 of the 2025-2026 UEFA Champions League, the highest-level club competition in European football, Turkish representative Galatasaray faced English side Liverpool. Galatasaray won the match 1-0 thanks to a single goal by Lemina. The first leg will be played on Tuesday 10 March at 20:45 at RAMS Park in Istanbul. The second leg is scheduled for Wednesday 18 March 2026 at Anfield Stadium in England.
In the first leg of the round of 16 of the 2025-2026 UEFA Champions League, Turkish club Galatasaray was drawn against English club Liverpool. The match officials were appointed by UEFA, with Jesús Gil Manzano from the Royal Spanish Football Federation serving as the central referee. Assistant referees were Angel Nevado and Guadalupe Porras Ayuso, while Juan Martinez Munuera was the fourth official. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team consisted of Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez and his assistant Valentin Gomez. The second and decisive leg of this tie is scheduled for Wednesday 18 March 2026 at Anfield Stadium in England.
Under the new system featuring 36 teams in a single league format, Galatasaray finished 20th in the league phase with three wins, one draw and four losses, earning a place in the round of 16 play-off. In the play-off round, they faced Italian club Juventus. Galatasaray won the first leg at home 5-2 and lost the away leg 3-2 after extra time, advancing to the round of 16 on a 7-5 aggregate goal advantage. As a result, Galatasaray became the first team in UEFA Champions League history to score seven goals against Juventus in a two-legged knockout tie. Additionally, the yellow and red club has advanced from all twelve of its European cup elimination ties in which it won its first leg by three or more goals.
On the other hand, Liverpool, under head coach Arne Slot, finished the league phase with six wins and two losses from eight matches. With 20 points, they placed third among the 36 teams and qualified directly for the round of 16 without needing to play a play-off match. This season, Liverpool lost only to Galatasaray and PSV Eindhoven in the league phase.
UEFA Champions League second matchday Galatasaray-Liverpool match (AA)
Galatasaray and Liverpool have met five times in European competition, all within the UEFA Champions League. Galatasaray won two of these matches away from home, Liverpool won one, and two ended in draws. Their first encounter occurred in the second group stage of the 2001-2002 season: the match in England ended 0-0, while the return leg in Istanbul finished 1-1. In their second meeting during the group stage of the 2006-2007 season, each team won their home match 3-2.
The most recent meeting between the two clubs took place in the second matchday of the league phase of the 2025-2026 season in Istanbul, where Galatasaray won 1-0. Galatasaray has never lost to Liverpool in three home matches, scoring a total of five goals and conceding three.
With this encounter against Liverpool, Galatasaray will play their 339th match in European competition. In their previous 338 matches, the club recorded 120 wins, 90 draws and 128 losses, scoring 467 goals and conceding 514. Having competed in 18 seasons of the Champions League to date, Galatasaray has reached the round of 16 for the 11th time, the highest number among Turkish clubs.
Galatasaray statistics (generated by artificial intelligence)
In their history against English clubs, Galatasaray has played 26 matches, facing West Bromwich Albion, Manchester United, Chelsea, Leeds United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City. In these matches, Galatasaray recorded six wins, nine draws and 11 losses, scoring 29 goals and conceding 48. At home, in 13 matches, the yellow and red team achieved five wins, five draws and three losses.
Recent statistics show that in four of Galatasaray's last five European matches against English teams, they remained undefeated (three wins, one draw). Additionally, the club has won six of their last 10 home matches in European competitions, drawn three and lost only once.
Liverpool, one of England's most historic clubs, has won 14 international trophies. Their museum includes four titles from the European Cup, known in its original form as the European Champion Clubs' Cup, and two from the current UEFA Champions League format. Liverpool has faced Turkish clubs 13 times in UEFA competitions: five times against Galatasaray, four times against Beşiktaş and four times against Trabzonspor. Against Turkish teams, Liverpool has scored 22 goals and conceded 12.
This season, under Dutch head coach Arne Slot, Liverpool sits in sixth place in the English Premier League after 29 matchdays, with 14 wins, six draws and nine losses, accumulating 48 points, 19 behind the league leader. During the summer transfer window, the club made several high-budget signings to strengthen its squad. Florian Wirtz from Germany's Bayer Leverkusen was signed for €140 million, Alexander Isak from Newcastle United for €120 million, Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt for €75 million, Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth for €45 million, and Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen for €40 million. Liverpool's total transfer expenditure exceeded half a billion euros.
Galatasaray will field a full squad for the match, with no injuries or suspensions affecting the team. However, Arda Ünyay, Renato Nhaga and Can Armando Güner, who are not included in the official UEFA squad list submitted by head coach Okan Buruk, will not be eligible to play. In terms of disciplinary status, goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır, defenders Ismail Jakobs, Davinson Sanchez and Abdülkerim Bardakcı, and forwards Roland Sallai, Noa Lang and Victor Osimhen, along with head coach Okan Buruk, are one yellow card away from suspension. Any player receiving a yellow card in this match will be suspended for the return leg in England.
For Liverpool, Swedish forward Alexander Isak will miss the match due to injury. Additionally, Conor Bradley and Curtis Jones are both one yellow card away from suspension. Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk, in his ninth season with the club, continues to serve as captain.
Victor Osimhen (AA)
In terms of individual performance ahead of the match, Galatasaray's Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen stands out. After scoring goals against Juventus, Osimhen has raised his total European competition goals to 13, surpassing Milan Baros's 12 to become Galatasaray's all-time top foreign scorer in European competitions. With seven goals this season in the Champions League, he has the potential to match Burak Yılmaz's record of eight goals in a single season by a Turkish player in the competition, set in 2012-2013.
Osimhen is also one of only two players this season in the Champions League to register the most accurate shots, with 24, alongside Kylian Mbappé.
Galatasaray's Barış Alper Yılmaz scored the latest goal in the club's European history, netting in the 118th minute and 1st second of the Juventus match. He also became the first Turkish Galatasaray player to both score and provide an assist in the same match in the Champions League after the group or league phase. Goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır made six saves in that same match, setting a new personal record in the Champions League. Finally, according to the official UEFA "Fantasy Football" statistics, Victor Osimhen (62 points) and Dominik Szoboszlai (67 points) are the top-scoring players for Galatasaray and Liverpool respectively.
In the context of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg match, it has been announced that English representative Liverpool will face Turkish representative Galatasaray at Anfield Stadium on 18 March 2026 at 23.00 Turkey Time. Galatasaray secured a 1-0 victory in the first leg played in Istanbul, giving them the advantage heading into the return fixture. The team that advances from this matchup will face either Chelsea or Paris Saint-Germain in the quarterfinals.
Liverpool and Galatasaray have faced each other for the third time this season in European competition. Both matches, played during the group stage and the first leg of the Round of 16, ended in 1-0 victories for Galatasaray. It was reported that the only goal in the first match was scored by Mario Lemina. On the Liverpool side, head coach Arne Slot and defender Andrew Robertson stated that their team has shown inconsistent form in the English Premier League, a situation that has disappointed supporters. In contrast, Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk highlighted that his team is on an upward trajectory both domestically and in Europe, with high levels of self-confidence.
Prior to the match, both teams were confirmed to be missing key players. Liverpool forward Alexander Isak will be unavailable due to injury, while the status of defender Joe Gomez will be determined closer to kick-off. For the visiting side Galatasaray, defender Davinson Sanchez will miss this crucial encounter due to suspension.
Regarding tactical expectations, Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk shared his technical insights with the public regarding Liverpool’s likely starting lineup. Buruk suggested that Liverpool might deploy Dominik Szoboszlai at right-back to accommodate Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch in midfield, alongside Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah and Florian Wirtz in attack. Szoboszlai’s energy, set-piece ability and offensive orientation were highlighted as a dangerous profile for the opposition on the right flank. Galatasaray, Buruk emphasized, will not approach the match with a purely defensive mindset or simply aim to react after conceding, but will seek to impose their own attacking play and score goals. Additionally, Okan Buruk expressed satisfaction with the professionalism and competitive spirit of player Roland Sallai.
Liverpool Head Coach Arne Slot (AA)
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot expressed strong confidence in the advantage of playing at home and the support of the Anfield crowd. Slot reminded that his team has defeated strong opponents such as Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid and Inter in the Champions League, asserting that their place in the last eight was well deserved. The Dutch coach referenced Galatasaray’s aggressive defensive resistance, compact blocks and the disallowed penalty awarded to Liverpool in the first leg, stating that his team will work to ensure that the details go in their favor this time. Slot also acknowledged that the pressure surrounding the match is being treated as a positive motivational factor. Furthermore, Slot disagreed with criticism from Jamie Carragher regarding the team’s lack of cohesion, noting that the players’ recent performances prove the opposite.
Liverpool left-back Andrew Robertson (AA)" image-element-format="left" image-height="4343" image-source="https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2026/03/18/frD5C6fu6lNggDj3yHQBTJtahLZIXpWF.jpg" image-width="6515">
Liverpool’s experienced left-back Andrew Robertson recalled past experiences, such as the 3-0 comeback victory against Barcelona, to affirm that the current squad possesses the quality and belief to progress in the competition. Robertson emphasized that this season the team has lacked the ability to score when controlling games and break down opponents’ resistance, and that correcting this in this match is essential. The player also referenced the difficult atmosphere created by Galatasaray fans in the first leg and claimed that his team will play with entirely different energy on their own ground.
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Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk stated that his team aims to leave England with a ticket to the next round. Buruk noted that the difficulties faced in the previous round’s second leg against Juventus provided valuable experience for the squad, stressing that players must remain fully engaged for the full 90 minutes. He criticized the decision to ban Galatasaray fans from attending the Juventus match due to off-field incidents, calling it unfair and condemning the allocation of the away section to the home team. Buruk affirmed that the team’s motivation will come from the supporters who stand with them, even if they cannot be present in the stadium.
Galatasaray midfielder Gabriel Sara (AA)" image-element-format="left" image-height="4516" image-source="https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2026/03/18/ti2OrSED66gg50HZhXOgezn372SRvUNi.jpg" image-width="6485">
Galatasaray midfielder Gabriel Sara offered cautious and realistic remarks ahead of the match. Sara warned that the one-goal advantage gained in the first leg can be deceptive in football and emphasized that the team is fully focused on winning, with no room for complacency. He expressed that being called up to the Brazil national team recently was a great honor and a childhood dream, and credited head coach Okan Buruk for instilling this vision in him during his transfer process and keeping his word. Sara also stated that he has no complaints about playing in the number ten role seeking goals or operating in a position closer to Lucas Torreira, where he receives the ball more frequently.
In the first leg of the round of 16 of the 2025-2026 UEFA Champions League, the highest-level club competition in European football, Turkish representative Galatasaray faced English side Liverpool. Galatasaray won the match 1-0 thanks to a solitary goal by Lemina. The first leg was played on Tuesday 10 March at 20:45 at the RAMS Park stadium in Istanbul, while the second leg is scheduled for Wednesday 18 March 2026 at Anfield stadium in England.
In the first leg of the round of 16 of the 2025-2026 UEFA Champions League, the highest-level club competition in European football, Turkish representative Galatasaray was drawn against English side Liverpool. The match officials were appointed by UEFA, with Jesús Gil Manzano of the Royal Spanish Football Federation serving as the referee. Assistant referees were Angel Nevado and Guadalupe Porras Ayuso, while Juan Martinez Munuera acted as the fourth official. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team consisted of Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez and his assistant Valentin Gomez. The second and decisive leg of this tie is scheduled to be played on Wednesday 18 March 2026 at Anfield stadium in England.
Under the new system featuring 36 teams in a single league format, Galatasaray finished 20th in the league stage with three wins, one draw and four losses, earning a place in the round of 16 play-off. In the play-off round, they were drawn against Italian side Juventus. Galatasaray won the first leg at home 5-2 and lost the away leg 3-2 after extra time, but advanced to the round of 16 on a 7-5 aggregate goal advantage. As a result, Galatasaray became the first team in UEFA Champions League history to score seven goals against Juventus in a two-legged knockout tie. Additionally, the yellow and red club has progressed in all 12 of its European knockout ties where it won its first leg by a margin of three or more goals.
On the other hand, under manager Arne Slot, Liverpool finished the league stage with six wins and two losses from eight matches. With 20 points, they placed third in the 36-team standings and qualified directly for the round of 16 without needing to play a play-off match. This season, Liverpool lost only to Galatasaray and PSV Eindhoven during the league phase.
UEFA Champions League second matchday Galatasaray-Liverpool match (AA)
Galatasaray and Liverpool have met five times in European competition, all within the UEFA Champions League. Galatasaray won two of these matches away from home, Liverpool won one, and two ended in draws. Their first encounter occurred in the 2001-2002 season during the second group stage: the match in England ended goalless, while the return leg in Istanbul finished 1-1. In their second meeting during the 2006-2007 group stage, each team won their home match 3-2.
The most recent meeting between the two clubs took place during the second matchday of the league phase of the 2025-2026 season in Istanbul, where Galatasaray won 1-0. Galatasaray has never lost to Liverpool in three home matches, scoring a total of five goals while conceding three.
With this encounter, Galatasaray will play their 339th match in European competition. In their previous 338 matches, the club recorded 120 wins, 90 draws and 128 defeats, scoring 467 goals and conceding 514. Having competed in 18 seasons of the Champions League to date, Galatasaray has reached the round of 16 for the 11th time, the highest number among Turkish clubs.
Galatasaray statistics (generated by artificial intelligence)
Looking at Galatasaray's historical performance against English teams, they have played 26 matches against clubs including West Bromwich Albion, Manchester United, Chelsea, Leeds United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City. In these matches, Galatasaray recorded six wins, nine draws and 11 losses, scoring 29 goals and conceding 48. At home, in 13 matches, the yellow and red team achieved five wins, five draws and three losses.
Recent statistics show that Galatasaray has not lost four of their last five European matches against English teams (three wins, one draw). Additionally, the club has won six of their last 10 home matches in European competition, drawn three and lost only once.
Liverpool, one of England's most historic clubs, has won 14 international trophies. Four of these are from the European Cup, known in its former format as the European Champion Clubs' Cup, and two are from the current UEFA Champions League format. Liverpool has faced Turkish clubs 13 times in UEFA competitions: five matches against Galatasaray, four against Beşiktaş and four against Trabzonspor. In these 13 matches, Liverpool scored 22 goals and conceded 12.
Under Dutch manager Arne Slot this season, the club sits in sixth place in the English Premier League with 48 points from 14 wins, six draws and nine losses after 29 matchdays, 19 points behind the league leader. During the summer transfer window, Liverpool made several high-budget signings to strengthen their squad. Florian Wirtz from Germany's Bayer Leverkusen was signed for €140 million, Alexander Isak from Newcastle United for €120 million, Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt for €75 million, Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth for €45 million and Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen for €40 million, taking the club's total transfer expenditure beyond half a billion euros.
Galatasaray entered the match with a full squad, with no players unavailable due to injury or suspension. However, Arda Ünyay, Renato Nhaga and Can Armando Güner, who were not included in the official UEFA squad list submitted by manager Okan Buruk, are ineligible to play. In terms of disciplinary status, goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır, defenders Ismail Jakobs, Davinson Sanchez and Abdülkerim Bardakcı, and forwards Roland Sallai, Noa Lang and Victor Osimhen, along with manager Okan Buruk, are one yellow card away from suspension. Any player receiving a yellow card in this match will be suspended for the return leg in England.
At Liverpool, Swedish forward Alexander Isak will miss the match due to injury. Additionally, Conor Bradley and Curtis Jones are both one yellow card away from suspension. Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk, in his ninth season with the club, remains captain and a key figure in the squad.
Victor Osimhen (AA)
In terms of individual performance ahead of the match, Galatasaray's Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen stands out. After scoring in the tie against Juventus, Osimhen raised his total European goal tally to 13, surpassing Milan Baros's 12 goals to become Galatasaray's all-time top foreign scorer in European competitions. With seven goals this season in the Champions League, Osimhen has the potential to match Burak Yılmaz's record of eight goals in a single season by a Turkish club player, set in 2012-2013.
Osimhen is also one of only two players this season in the Champions League to register the most accurate shots (24), alongside Kylian Mbappé.
Galatasaray's Barış Alper Yılmaz scored in the 118th minute and first second of the Juventus match, netting the latest goal in the club's European history. He also became the first Turkish Galatasaray player to both score and provide an assist in the same match in the Champions League after the group or league phase. Goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır made six saves in the same match, setting a new personal record in the Champions League. Finally, according to the official UEFA "Fantasy Football" statistics, the highest-scoring players in this tie are Victor Osimhen of Galatasaray (62 points) and Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool (67 points).
Galatasaray and Liverpool will face each other on Tuesday 10 March 2026 at 20:45 at RAMS Park in Istanbul in the first leg of the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League 2025-2026 season. The match will be officiated by Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manzano. Galatasaray reached this stage by eliminating Juventus in the play-off round, while Liverpool, having finished third in the league phase, qualified directly for the round of 16. In the five previous Champions League encounters between the two teams, Galatasaray won two matches and Liverpool won one; the match during the league phase of the current season ended in a 1-0 victory for Galatasaray.
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