Galatasaray's Europa League campaign has come to a disappointing end, as the Turkish side was held to a 2-2 draw at home against AZ Alkmaar, resulting in their elimination from the tournament with an aggregate score of 6-3.
During the second leg of the UEFA Europa League Round of 16, Galatasaray's lackluster performance raised eyebrows, especially as fans anticipated their upcoming encounter against fierce rivals, Fenerbahçe, set for February 24.
Despite the frustration of their supporters, Galatasaray's 33-year-old goalkeeper, Günay Güvenç, exemplified impressive form, making several key saves to prevent what could have been a humiliative defeat. Güvenç, having only appeared once this season prior, was unexpectedly called to action, and his efforts earned him applause from the fans even as the team struggled.
AZ Alkmaar wasted no time making their presence known, consistently applying pressure from the start of the match. The visitors took the lead just before the halftime whistle when Ernest Poku produced yet another assist, setting up Seiya Maikuma for a straightforward finish to establish the score at 1-0.
Things went from bad to worse for Galatasaray shortly after the break. AZ Alkmaar's Denso Kasius fired home from 25 yards out, stunning the home crowd and giving the Dutch side a clearer path to the next round with their 2-0 advantage.
Just two minutes later, Galatasaray showed signs of life. Lucas Torreira's precise pass found Victor Osimhen, who responded with powerful determination, driving the ball home to cut AZ's lead down to 2-1.
The excitement didn’t last long; AZ Alkmaar continued to dominate. They responded swiftly, and it was not until the 70th minute when Galatasaray levelled the match at 2-2. Barış Alper Yılmaz's assist set up Roland Sallai, who struck the ball low and firmly, bringing hopes of a comeback for the Turkish giants.
Despite the equalizer, the overall aggregate of 6-3 left Galatasaray facing the harsh reality of exiting the competition, marking their third failure to reach the knockout stage of European football within the last five seasons.
Coach Okan Buruk's side took the field missing several integral players, including Kaan Ayhan, who was serving his suspension, as well as Ismail Jakobs, Alvaro Morata, Yunus Akgun, and Mauro Icardi due to injuries. The team must now rally their remaining squad amid these setbacks, as attention swiftly turns to the high stakes match against Fenerbahçe.
This derby is even more momentous as Galatasaray currently leads the league with Fenerbahçe trailing just six points behind. The matchup holds the potential to significantly influence the Turkish Süper Lig title race.
To facilitate this intense matchup and mitigate concerns over officiation, the Turkish Football Federation has appointed Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic to oversee the encounter, which adds another layer of complexity to this already heated rivalry. Fans are eager to witness how both teams manage their pressure and expectations as the league title is on the line.
The fallout from this Europa League exit will certainly reverberate through Galatasaray's camp as they seek to restructure and revitalize their squad for future competitions.