Sporting CP began their Champions League campaign with a 3-1 comeback against Galatasaray, turning a difficult first half in Lisbon into three precious points before a formidable run of fixtures against Manchester United, Manchester City, Barcelona and Roma.
Sporting CP 3-1 Galatasaray: Suárez and Zalazar turn the night
Galatasaray arrived at the José Alvalade determined to show that their summer investment and Turkish football’s ambitions belong on this stage, even without Victor Osimhen. The visitors were also missing Mario Lemina, while İlkay Gündoğan initially remained among the substitutes. For long spells, they looked the more settled side, dominating close to 75 per cent of possession and taking an early lead.
The opener came from an unusual route. Ismail Jakobs launched an enormous throw-in which effectively became a corner, and Davinson Sánchez got the slightest of touches. Rui Silva produced an instinctive first save but could not prevent the follow-up, with Lucas Torreira and Gonçalo Inácio involved as the ball crossed the line.
Sporting, one of last season’s standout European stories, had to withstand Galatasaray’s early authority. Rui Silva and Eduardo Quaresma helped keep the deficit to one, while Leroy Sané repeatedly found intelligent positions between the lines and came close to restoring the Turkish side’s advantage before half-time with a curling effort near the top corner.
A disallowed Luis Suárez goal in the 19th minute proved to be Sporting’s warning. Five minutes later, the Portuguese champions were level. Luis Guilherme and Matheus Araújo combined swiftly on the break, with Araújo’s delivery leaving a loose ball for Geny Catamo. The forward used his body cleverly against Torreira before finishing the move.
The match had little midfield control, despite the presence of players such as Sergi Altimira and Rodrigo Zalazar, and Galatasaray’s energy initially gave them the initiative. But Sporting emerged after the interval with far greater purpose, responding to the message delivered by coach Rui Borges at the break.
Jakobs, so influential in Galatasaray’s opening goal, became the decisive figure at the other end when he brought down Luis Suárez inside the area as the Colombian forward moved through on goal. VAR confirmed the penalty, and Suárez converted. It was his fifth goal of the new season after scoring 28 in the previous campaign, numbers that are already strengthening the sense that he could become Sporting’s next major transfer sale.
Sporting did not retreat after taking the lead. Within five minutes, Rodrigo Zalazar struck a superb free-kick to make it 3-1, displaying the set-piece quality associated with his father, former Uruguay international José Luis Zalazar. Galatasaray brought on Gündoğan and former Alvalade favourite Rafa Leão, but the visitors had faded badly and Sporting saw out the contest with authority.
As the home support sang Frank Sinatra’s “My Way”, Sporting had transformed a testing European opening into a result that could shape their entire league-phase journey. Galatasaray, meanwhile, left Lisbon with a reminder of how quickly Champions League nights punish any loss of control.
SEO Title: Sporting CP 3-1 Galatasaray: Suárez leads Champions League comeback
SEO Description: Sporting CP recovered from an early Galatasaray goal to win 3-1 in Lisbon, with Luis Suárez scoring from the spot and Rodrigo Zalazar sealing the Champions League victory.
