Not long after his attempt, Belhanda’s flailing arm catches Caligiuri’s face as he attempts to hold the ball off the Schalke defender. The latter goes down, and the Galatasaray midfielder enters the referee’s book as the clock ticks towards full-time.
90' +4
Belhanda pulls off a stunning pirouette and jinks past McKennie, but his long-range effort is high over the bar.
90' +3
Skrzybski chases down McKennie’s long ball, but the home defence quickly step in to avert any danger away. Less than two minutes left now for both sides to get anything here.
90' +1
The home crowd roar as Bayram wins a corner after driving down the left. The set-piece ultimately goes to nothing, however, as both sides look to go all out in the final minutes.
90'
G. Burgstaller enters the game and replaces M. Uth.
The impressive Uth comes off for Burgstaller in Schalke’s final change of the match.
The fourth official indicates five minutes of stoppage time to be played in this compelling match so far.
88'
Galatasaray once again shout for a penalty after Celik is seemingly tripped in the box by Stambouli, but Bastien unsurprisingly denies any more protests.
87'
SCHALKE SHOULD’VE GAINED THE LEAD THERE! Another big chance not taken by the German side as Rudy’s cute little through-ball is released on to the path of Skrzybski, whose shot is equalled by Muslera’s low save! Galatasaray clear the ball away from harm.
82'
W. McKennie enters the game and replaces B. Embolo.
McKennie, who secured the three points against Lokomotiv Moscow last time they played in the competition, is sent on in place of Embolo.
81'
Ö. Bayram enters the game and replaces Y. Nagatomo.
Bayram comes on in place of the winded Nagatomo, who is clutching his rib and is helped by one of the physios as he slowly trudges off the field.
78'
Kabak gives the ball away and Schalke attack with purpose, but a potential breakaway results in another Muslera catch after Skrzybski gets dispossessed on the wing.
Minute
Description
77'
S. Skrzybski enters the game and replaces Y. Konoplanka.
Skrzybski makes his Champions League debut as he comes on for Konoplyanka for Schalke’s first change of the match.
74'
Belhanda whips another corner in, but the ex-Schalke man’s delivery misses everyone bar a touch by Uth. He takes another one, but is cleared by the away defence despite the home side shouting for a penalty after a tangle resulted in a couple of Galatasaray players going down. Bastien once again waves away any claims.
72'
Konoplyanka nicks the ball from the halfway line, but Kabak outmuscles the ball away from the Russia winger before any more damage can be dealt. The Turkey centre-back has had a marked improvement in performance since the break.
71'
Inan attempts a lofted through-ball towards the run of the oncoming Linnes, but the pass is overhit as the ball goes out for a Schalke goal-kick.
70'
M. Çelik enters the game and replaces E. Derdiyok.
Derdiyok, who has cut a frustrated figure up front, is replaced by his fellow forward Celik for Galatasaray’s second change.
67'
Rudy standing over the ball before taking the free-kick, but the set-piece is headed away by Kabak. Schalke continue to press, forcing Nagatomo to make a panicked clearance, and the play ends with Derdiyok fouling Sane in his own half close to the centre circle.
64'
Stambouli fouls Rodrigues on the left-hand side, and Inan’s resulting free-kick is caught by Nubel in mid-air.
62'
It’s looking more and more open as the match wears on, with Embolo finding space and running towards the Galatasaray goal. His wild shot hits the outside of Muslera’s net though, and the home side get a goal-kick.
61'
S. İnan enters the game and replaces S. Gümüş.
Club captain Inan replaces Gumus on the wing for his side’s and the game’s first substitution.
60'
M. Linnes gets yellow.
Linnes fouls Rudy in his own half, gaining the third booking of the match. Both Galatasaray full-backs have now been carded.
58'
SCHALKE GET A GOAL CHALKED OFF FOR OFFSIDE! Caligiuri attacks down the right side, getting into the box, and is met by Embolo’s outstretched boot. The ball hits Muslera, who is powerless to stop the ball from going into the net. However, Bastien disallows the goal as Schalke celebrate! Further replays show that Embolo was indeed in an offside position as Caligiuri’s low delivery came in, and Galatasaray survive yet again!
56'
Konoplyanka shoots again, this time from outside the area, but his effort is touched over the bar from Muslera. The corner is then safely caught by the Uruguay keeper.
55'
Mendyl looks for support after breaking down the left, but the home side track back in numbers, nullifying any promising away attack. Maicon clears for a throw-in.
52'
Y. Nagatomo gets yellow.
Caligiuri is brought down by Nagatomo’s outstretched leg, and the Japan full-back gets into the referee’s book for the home side’s first booking of the game.
51'
Nagatomo wins a free-kick on the left wing, but Belhanda’s lofted set-piece is caught by Nubel.
49'
B. Embolo gets yellow.
Not long after his earlier efforts, Embolo gets booked for simulation after going down from a flailing Muslera challenge in the box. He’s now one booking away from a one-match ban in the competition. However, further replays have indicated that Bastien may have been too harsh in awarding Embolo with the yellow, as Muslera once again escapes another legitimate penalty shout against his side.
48'
EMBOLO WITH ANOTHER CHANCE! Konoplyanka jinks past Linnes and floats one in the box for Embolo, who meets it with his head but is straight at Muslera who catches the ball with ease.
46'
No player changes at the interval for either side, as they both seek to gain a foothold in this match. Schalke however change their shape into a 3-5-2, with Stambouli moving into a three-man defence alongside Sane and Nastasic. Caligiuri and Mendyl act as the marauding wing-backs, with Rudy at the base of the midfield alongside Serdar and Uth who’ve dropped back. Konoplyanka partners Embolo up front.
Galatasaray get play restarted as the second half gets underway!
45' +1
HALF-TIME: GALATASARAY 0-0 SCHALKE
45'
GALATASARAY ALMOST NICK ONE! Rodrigues breaks down the right and his low cross is met by the on-rushing Derdiyok, whose fierce shot is deflected away by Nubel’s face!
One minute of time is added on.
42'
Sane nearly gifts one to the hosts, but Nagatomo fails to take advantage of the Schalke defender’s lapse in concentration after his through-ball catches Rodrigues in an offside position.
39'
Schalke have another chance to break free, with Embolo’s back to the on-rushing Muslera resorting in the former to play it off to Uth. He lays it off to Konoplyanka, but instead of playing it to the onrushing Rudy, he curls one which goes well high and wide to the right. Galatasaray get the goal-kick.
37'
Ndiaye once again trying to conjure up another attack, but Derdiyok’s poor touch concedes possession to the away side who’ve just about shaded their hosts in terms of chances created.
35'
Ndiaye has a go from outside of the area after making another forceful run from midfield, but the shot is too high.
34'
Schalke claim for a penalty as Konoplyanka is brought down by Kabak after being put through by Uth, but referee Bastien waves away any protests.
33'
Sane concedes a free-kick after fouling Gumus, and Maicon stands over the ball from long range. His powerful set-piece goes well over the bar, though.
32'
Konoplyanka again makes a promising run down the left, but his ball towards Uth is intercepted and its now Galatasaray’s turn to play possession football. The ensuing passage results in a Derdiyok through-ball that Nubel catches with ease.
31'
Embolo chases a long ball, but Donk catches up with the pacey forward once again and concedes a throw-in. The away side continue to play it calmly from the back.
30'
Nubel goes down to collect Rodrigues’ low shot after being released by Ndiaye. Half an hour gone, and we’re still goalless in Istanbul.
28'
Uth is making a nuisance of himself in the midfield, finding Konoplyanka who attempts to jink his way down the left wing. However, the Russia winger’s cross is scooped away by Ndiaye who makes a driving run down the midfield. He is stopped though, and Schalke regain possession.
24'
Embolo nearly nips in front of Donk through on goal, but the latter’s outstretched foot takes it away from the forward. Galatasaray win a goal kick in the process.
19'
The home crowd are turning up the volume with a cacophony of loud boos. Schalke win another corner in the process, but Rudy’s corner fails to connect with Nastasic’s head and a spell of head tennis results in a Muslera catch.
16'
Serdar attempting to make things happen for the away side, nearly releasing Embolo once again before taking a shot himself which is deflected out for a corner.
15'
The home side now win a corner, but Nubel is equal to Belhanda’s whipped delivery and gratefully catches it.
14'
The subsequent corner goes to nothing, with play ending after Mendyl concedes a foul.
10'
Caligiuri makes a good run, breaking down the right looking for Konoplyanka, but his cross is cleared by the home defence.
9'
Rodrigues hits one from distance after a passage of play involving Donk and Belhanda in the midfield, and Nubel punches it clear for the game’s first corner. Belhanda takes the set-piece, and the stand-in keeper forces it away once more. Schalke gain a throw-in.
6'
Nastasic concedes a free-kick near the centre circle by going in late on Gumus, and not long after that, Serdar catches Nagatomo late with a rough challenge. Both sides are aiming to stamp their authority in this most daunting of atmospheres.
4'
Serdar tries to release Embolo with a good through-ball down the right, but Donk catches up with the pacy forward and plays it back to Muslera.
3'
Stambouli is caught late by Nagatomo, and the ex-Inter Milan full-back gives away a foul. The stand-in Schalke skipper stays down clutching his shoulder, but there’s no need for medical assistance - the midfielder gets back up and play is restarted.
1'
Referee Benoit Bastien blows his whistle, and Schalke get us underway at the cauldron that is the Turk Telekom Arena!
Linnes fails to combine with Belhanda and cheaply gives the ball away. Schalke try to take advantage with Rudy trying to look for an opening but plays it safe and back to the defence.
Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of this Champions League Group D match as Galatasaray host Schalke at the Turk Telekom Arena in Istanbul!
In one of the more evenly matched groups in the competition, both sides will see this fixture as a chance to leapfrog Porto and claim top spot for themselves. Despite a 1-0 loss away to the current Group D table-toppers at the start of October, Galatasaray are in the midst of an imperious run on home turf which includes a 3-0 thrashing of Lokomotiv Moscow in the opening round. A 1-1 draw against Bursaspor last Friday halted a 16-match winning streak at the Turk Telekom Arena, but Fatih Terim’s charges - backed by a traditionally raucous crowd - will look to end a 26-year run without a win at home against German opposition (four draws and three defeats have since followed a 1-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt back in November 1992).
In contrast to their league leading hosts, Schalke’s domestic form couldn’t be any more different. After a promising run of three straight wins, including a 1-0 defeat of Lokomotiv Moscow at the death, Domenico Tedesco’s men suffered a 2-0 defeat high-flying Werder Bremen, leaving them languishing in 16th place and a point from bottom. However, the German side have been known to find solace in the early stages of European competition - they’ve only lost one of their last 15 on the continent - and have emerged victorious in their last three away matches in this competition, including a famous 4-3 win against Real Madrid in March 2015. Factor in their hosts’ record against German sides, and a tightly contested clash is on the cards in Istanbul.
With 15 minutes to go before kick-off, let’s take a look at how both sides line up, starting with the hosts.
GALATASARAY XI (4-3-3): Fernando Muslera (c); Martin Linnes, Maicon, Ozan Kabak, Yuto Nagatomo; Badou Ndiaye, Ryan Donk, Younes Belhanda; Sinan Gumus, Eren Derdiyok, Garry Rodrigues.
Terim shuffles the deck, making six changes after their 1-1 draw against Bursaspor. Ndiaye, making his return after missing the defeat at Porto through suspension, keeps his place in midfield with Donk and Belhanda coming in for Fernando and Feghouli, the latter two being pre-match doubts after coming off during the first half last Friday. Derdiyok, who came off the bench to secure the draw at the weekend with a 77th minute equaliser, is awarded with a starting place up front. Maicon comes in at centre-back for Aziz, who also came off before the interval at the weekend.
Tedesco makes one more change than his opposite number, with ex-Manchester City defender Nastasic coming in for the ill skipper Naldo who didn’t make the trip to Turkey. The entirety of the visitors’ front six have been reshuffled, with Stambouli taking the captain’s armband and partnering Rudy in the base of the midfield in place of Bentaleb and Omar Mascarell. Despite his 88th minute winner in Moscow, American youngster McKennie is benched in favour of Serder in the hole behind Embolo, who didn’t take any part in Saturday’s loss against Bremen. 17-year old Lanze, who’s yet to make a single first-team appearance, also takes his place on the bench as Nubel continues to deputise for injured first-choice goalkeeper Ralf Fahrmann.
The players are out and kick-off is drawing near as the home crowd ramp up their customary noise with the Champions League anthem blaring in the background.
SCHALKE XI (4-2-3-1): Alexander Nubel; Daniel Caligiuri, Salif Sane, Matija Nastasic, Hamza Mendyl; Benjamin Stambouli (c), Sebastian Rudy; Mark Uth, Suat Serdar, Yevhen Konoplyanka; Breel Embolo.
Despite having the lion’s share of the possession, Galatasaray have failed to create any chances that can be described as clear-cut, with most of their attempts coming from outside the box that have failed to threaten Nubel in the Schalke goal. Belhanda has taken on the role of the home side’s creator-in-chief, but he will need to conjure up something better for the Turkish side to come away with something positive against an increasingly dangerous Schalke side who’ve troubled them with their speed so far.
Tedesco will be happy with his side’s first-half display, with his front four catching their opponents’ defence napping on several occasions before the interval. The pace of Konoplyanka and Embolo, in particular, have been key in Schalke getting the better of the chances so far, and their combined efforts over the next 45 minutes will be key in securing any kind of advantage in front of a roaring home support.
And that wraps up our coverage. We hope you enjoyed our commentary, and until next time, goodbye!
Schalke and Galatasaray will encounter each other again next time out in two weeks’ time on matchday four of the Champions League at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen. The goalless draw has caused no shift in the group, with both sides retaining their positions and Porto consolidating their two-point lead at the top after a 3-1 win at Lokomotiv Moscow. Domestically, Tedesco’s men face a tough trip away to RB Leipzig this Sunday while Terim’s charges will look to tighten their grip at the top of their league against Yeni Malatyaspor on the same day.
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