Galatasaray 0-1 Union Saint-Gilloise: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Galatasaray started this Champions League clash with plenty of possession, bossing 66% of the ball by the end, but they couldn’t turn it into goals against a resilient Union Saint-Gilloise side. An early yellow card for Ilkay Gundogan in the 13th minute set a scrappy tone, and despite pushing forward, the hosts saw a substitution at 53’ when Ismail Jakobs came off for Abdulkadir Unyay. The turning point came in the 57th minute when Promise David scored for the visitors, assisted by Adem Zorgane, giving Union a lead they wouldn’t let go.

The second half saw discipline issues mount for Galatasaray, with yellow cards for Lucas Torreira and Davinson Sanchez around the hour mark, and even manager Okan Buruk booked at 70’. Union made smart changes, subbing off scorer David a minute after his goal and bringing on fresh legs later, while Galatasaray’s Unyay picked up two yellows leading to a red card at 89’, leaving them a man down late on. Despite more corners and pressure, the Turkish side couldn’t find an equaliser, handing Union a gritty 1-0 away win.

The stats paint a picture of Galatasaray dominating the ball with 66% possession, suggesting they controlled much of the game’s tempo, but their inefficiency in front of goal meant they couldn’t capitalise on that advantage. Union Saint-Gilloise, with just 34% possession, made the most of their opportunities, edging out on corners 5-4 which shows they posed a threat on the break despite being under pressure. Discipline was a big factor too, with Galatasaray picking up five yellows and one red compared to Union’s two yellows, likely disrupting their rhythm, while the visitors used four substitutions to manage the game better than Galatasaray’s single change.

The match’s defining moment arrived in the 57th minute when Promise David fired Union Saint-Gilloise ahead with a goal assisted by Adem Zorgane, breaking the deadlock after a first half that saw both sides hit the woodwork. Earlier, Ilkay Gundogan’s yellow card at 13’ for Galatasaray hinted at early tensions, followed by David’s own booking at 36’ for the visitors. Substitutions played a role too, with Galatasaray swapping Ismail Jakobs for Abdulkadir Unyay at 53’, but it was Union’s change right after the goal, taking off David for Kevin Rodriguez at 58’, that helped them consolidate.

Discipline unravelled for Galatasaray in the second half, starting with yellow cards for Lucas Torreira at 63’ and Davinson Sanchez at 64’, then manager Okan Buruk at 70’. Union’s Anan Khalaili was booked at 63’, but the real drama came late when substitute Unyay received yellows at 80’ and 89’, resulting in a red card and leaving the hosts short-handed. Union managed the game well with subs at 71’ (A. Ait El Hadj off for R. Schoofs, R. Florucz off for S. Boufal) and 90’ (O. Niang off for F. Leysen), which helped them see out the win.

Galatasaray lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, aiming to use their midfield trio to control the game and feed balls to the front three, which aligned with their high 66% possession as they dictated play for long spells. In practice, this setup allowed them to build pressure and win set-pieces like their four corners, but defensive lapses and poor finishing meant they couldn’t convert dominance into goals. The lone substitution at 53’, bringing on Abdulkadir Unyay for Ismail Jakobs, tried to inject fresh energy into the attack, but it backfired with Unyay’s later red card disrupting their shape in the closing stages.

Union Saint-Gilloise set up in a 3-4-1-2, focusing on a solid back three to absorb pressure while using wing-backs for quick counters, which suited their underdog status and helped them weather Galatasaray’s possession with just 34% of the ball. This structure paid off with five corners and the crucial 57th-minute goal, showing their efficiency on the break despite fewer chances. Substitutions bolstered their stability, like replacing scorer Promise David with Kevin Rodriguez at 58’ to freshen the attack, and later changes at 71’ and 90’ maintained their defensive resolve to protect the slim lead.

Adem Zorgane is the Man of the Match, contributing an assist for David's goal and creating 4 chances. His control over midfield proved the difference in a tight contest, showcasing his ability to break up play and transition into attack.

Recent Champions League matches:

• Loss: 0-1 vs Union Saint-Gilloise (H)
• Win: 3-0 vs Ajax (A)
• Win: 3-1 vs Bodø / Glimt (H)
• Win: 1-0 vs Liverpool (H)
• Loss: 1-5 vs Eintracht Frankfurt (A)

Recent Champions League matches:

• Win: 1-0 vs Galatasaray (A)
• Loss: 1-3 vs Atlético Madrid (A)
• Loss: 0-4 vs Inter (H)
• Loss: 0-4 vs Newcastle United (H)
• Win: 3-1 vs PSV (A)

Galatasaray, currently sitting 11th in the Champions League with 9 points, will look to bounce back from this frustrating 0-1 defeat when they face rivals Fenerbahçe on 1 December at 17:00. The loss highlights their issues with finishing and discipline, especially with Abdulkadir Unyay now likely suspended after his red card, so they’ll need to tighten up to regain confidence in what could be a heated derby.

Union Saint-Gilloise, now on 6 points in 22nd place in the Champions League, head into their next fixture against Anderlecht on 30 November at 17:30 buoyed by this hard-fought 1-0 win away at Galatasaray. Their defensive resilience and smart substitutions showed they can grind out results, which could give them momentum in the domestic clash, though they’ll want to build on that low-possession blueprint.

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