Galatasaray travel to Sporting CP with depleted attack for Champions League opener | OneFootball

Galatasaray open their UEFA Champions League league phase on Wednesday night away to Sporting CP at the Estádio José Alvalade, with injuries biting into Okan Buruk’s attack.

According to Turkish-Football.com, Sporting have 12 points from their first five Liga Portugal matches under Rui Borges, while the Süper Lig holders are unbeaten with three wins and one draw. Recent visits to Portugal have not been kind to Galatasaray.

Victor Osimhen is out with a groin strain suffered in domestic action, and Mario Lemina and Wilfried Singo are also sidelined. The absences stretch key positions across the spine.

Barış Alper Yılmaz is expected to lead the line, supported by summer arrivals Rafael Leão and Leroy Sané out wide, with İlkay Gündoğan orchestrating centrally.

Sporting will again look to Viktor Gyökeres, who has struck seven goals in his first five league outings this season.

Predicted lineups. Sporting CP: Silva, Quaresma, Diomande, Inácio, Quenda, Hjulmand, Morita, Catamo, Trincão, Gyökeres, Pote. Galatasaray: Çakır, Sallai, Sánchez, Bardakcı, Elmalı, Torreira, Sara, Gündoğan, Sané, Yılmaz, Leão.

Midfield control could decide this opener in the new league-phase format. Sporting boast strong home momentum with 21 wins in their last 29 at the Alvalade, thriving on high-pressing wing-backs and sharp vertical balls into Gyökeres. If Galatasaray keep their shape through Lucas Torreira and Gabriel Sara and strike early on the counter, they could quieten Lisbon and take a valuable result.

Source: Turkish-Football.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”