Struggles for Manchester United Continue after loss to Galatasaray

Manchester United dropped their second straight match in the Champions League on Tuesday. After losing 3-2 at home against Turkish club Galatasaray, United find themselves bottom of the group. In addition, they have conceded seven goals in the two group-stage matches.

The loss to Galatasaray is the latest in a string of poor results for Manchester United. In their first 10 games to start the season, United lost seven matches. As a result, pressure continues to pile up against Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag.

Man Utd lose 3-2 to Galatasaray at Old Trafford ❌

The pressure continues to mount on Erik ten Hag 😳 pic.twitter.com/Zg0dwozzLF

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) October 3, 2023

Manchester United strike First but Former Player Answers

In the first 20 minutes, Manchester United played with more control than their opponents on the ball. They created a chance two minutes into the match, as Rasmus Højlund tried to find Bruno Fernandes, though it was unsuccessful. In the 17th minute, Højlund scored a header to put United up 1-0. Casemiro sent a long ball down the right wing to Marcus Rashford, who whipped a cross to Højlund in the box.

Galatasaray struggled early on but they equalized just six minutes later. Center back Davinson Sanchez sent a long ball that bounced just outside of United’s box. Forward Wilfried Zaha held off United’s right back Diogo Dalot very well and hit the ball over the head of United’s goalkeeper André Onana for the goal. Zaha was a former player for United, as he signed for the club back in 2013 but made just four appearances.

United had one last big chance in the 44th minute when Mason Mount put a shot on, but a Galatasaray defender blocked the shot to prevent a goal. Besides that, the match went to the halftime break tied at one.

Big Mistakes Prove Costly in the End

Similar to the start of the first half, Manchester United started the second half well. Eight minutes in, Mount put up a shot outside of the box that tested Galatasaray’s goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. In the 59th minute, Højlund thought he had a second goal but it was chalked off for offsides. Three minutes later, Christian Eriksen sent in a cross for Marcus Rashford, but he could not put enough power on the ball to test Muslera.

In the 63rd and 65th minutes, Mount and Fernandes put up shots but it still was not enough. The chances that United created paid off in the 67th minute. Galatasary made a poor pass, and Højlund ran past the defense and lifted the ball over Muslera with his left foot to put United up 2-1.

Two minutes later, however, Galatasaray was gifted a chance after a mistake by Onana but they could not capitalize. In the 71st minute, Barış Alper Yılmaz made a run inside the box and passed it to Muhammed Kerem Aktürkoğlu who put the shot towards the far left post to tie the game.

Manchester United go Down to 10 Men

A big turning point happened in the 77th minute when Onana gave the ball away again. Casemiro, who was already on a yellow, committed a foul inside the box for a penalty. United went down to 10 men, though, Galatasaray’s forward Mauro Icardi hit his penalty wide and the game was still tied 2-2.

With nine minutes left in the match, United midfielder Sofyan Amrabat tried to play the ball down the field but was unsuccessful. Sanchez intercepted the ball and headed it toward Icardi. He ran toward Onana in a one-on-one situation and this time, he converted by chipping the ball over the goalkeeper. That goal put Galatasaray up 3-2 in the match.

Galatasaray continued to create chances and could have scored another one in this match. Manchester United could not create another chance to salvage a point after Galatasaray went up. After the seven minutes of stoppage time were up, the final whistle blew to signify the end of a 3-2 win for Galatasaray.

It was clear that going down to 10 men hurt United, as they could not create many chances after that. This win for Galatasaray marked their first win away in England.

This was Galatasaray's first EVER win on English soil.

It came against Manchester United in the Champions League at Old Trafford.

History for the Turkish side! 🇹🇷 pic.twitter.com/o2OuE39Cp1

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 3, 2023

After this loss, Manchester United has now conceded 19 goals so far this season. They will take on Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday for their next match. In the third matchday of the Champions League, United will host Copenhagen and Galatasaray will host Bayern on October 24.