Match Report: Galatasaray 3-2 Tottenham Hotspur

On Thursday evening, Spurs were in action for their fourth Europa League game of the season, as they locked horns with Galatasaray at Rams Park.

For the task at hand, Ange went with a line up of; Forster; Porro, Dragusin, Davies, Gray; Bergvall, Bissouma, Maddison; Johnson, Lankshear, Son. Former Spurs defender Davinson Sanchez was named in the Galatasary starting line up.

It was the nightmare start, with Yunus Akgun giving the hosts the lead after 5 minutes. In fairness, an absolutely incredible strike from the edge of the box. One of those goals where there isn't really anybody at fault.

The start of the game was terrible from Spurs, who could barely get their foot on the ball, allowing the atmosphere to dictate the game. Whilst not creating anything clear cut, the hosts were dominating the early territory.

After 19 minutes, however, Spurs had an equaliser after a rare foray forward. A superb ball over the top from Gray found Johnson, who unselfishly squared the ball for Lankshear to smash the ball into the roof of the net. What an incredible moment for the young teen.

Around 25 minutes in, the first big chance for Galatasaray came, as Osimhen raced through on goal, but was denied by Forster.

After half an hour, he did have the ball in the back of the net, but made his run early, and the goal was ruled out for offside without the need for VAR.

Just a couple of minutes later, he finally had his goal. Dragusin was caught on the ball, and with a couple of passes the 25-year old was through on goal, poking the ball past Forster with the outside of his foot.

With seven minutes remaining in the first half, Spurs once again gave the ball away cheaply, but Osimhen was denied by Forster. Within a minute, the striker had yet another opportunity, and got his second goal of the game, finishing on the volley after a cross from the right hand side.

There have been a few bad ones under Ange, but that was probably the worst first half during his tenure. Spurs had one chance during the entire first period , whilst Galatasaray were creating chances at will. There may not have been a half under Ange that Spurs have lost possession in quite so many times.

At half-time, Ange looked to his bench, and brought Bentancur and Kulusevski on for Son and Johnson. Maddison moved to the left wing, with Kulusevski on the right.

Within the first minute of the second half, Icardi had had two opportunies to score, but took neither of them. Just a minute or two later, Forster dropped the ball from a set piece, requiring a goal saving block from Betancur to prevent a fourth goal.

After 52 minutes, Osimhen missed yet another big chance, heading over the bar from a Mertens cross, who already had two assists.

Four minutes later, Forster made an incredible save to deny Osimhen. From the resulting corner, the striker header over. This is not chatGPT writing this up and malfunctioning, he is genuinely having this many chances.

Soon after, Lankshear had his and Spurs' second shot of the game, after 58 minutes, as his shot was saved by Muslera. Unfortunately, a couple of minutes later, Lankshear went late in on a challenge on a yellow card, and was given his marching orders. Spurs legitimately now had zero forwards on the pitch.

After 66 minutes, Solanke and Sarr replaced Bergvall and Maddison. At that point of the game, Galatasaray had had 26 shots, and Spurs had had two.

Three minutes later, Spurs got one back, as Solanke with a lovely flick from a low Porro cross, meaning they had scored twice from their three shots of the game.

With twelve minutes left, Akgun fired wide when well placed, a much easier chance to score than the one for his goal.

In stoppage time, Muslera came miles off his line to head the ball clear. The ball fell to Kulusevski, but he shanked his shot wide of the target.

Spurs had actually knocked the ball around nicely in the latter stages, with Bissouma and Bentancur stringing things together, but you could tell they had a man fewer on the pitch, and couldn't really create in roads. That would be that, and Spurs would lose the game 3-2.