Lilywhites fall short in Istanbul thriller

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Tottenham’s Europa League journey took a hit as they suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat to Galatasaray in an intense showdown at RAMS Park. Despite a late fightback towards the end, Spurs were outpaced by the Turkish side’s potent attack and hostile crowd atmosphere. Here’s our full Galatasaray 3-2 Tottenham match report.

Match report: Galatasaray early strikes sets tone vs Tottenham

Galatasaray made their intentions clear from the start, taking the lead in just the sixth minute. Yunus Akgun capitalised on a Tottenham defensive lapse, finding space to connect with a powerful half-volley. The Istanbul side kept up the pressure, and Tottenham looked momentarily rattled, struggling to gain a foothold in the game.

However, in the 17th minute, young forward Will Lankshear provided Spurs with a lifeline. The 18-year-old striker scored his first goal for the club, latching onto a cross with a composed finish to bring the score level. Lankshear’s maiden goal injected confidence into Tottenham’s play, briefly shifting momentum. Yet, Galatasaray were far from finished.

Just eight minutes later, Osimhen struck again to make it 3-1, exploiting Tottenham’s vulnerabilities with a well-timed shot that left Spurs reeling. Galatasaray’s relentless attacks yielded a strong xG of 1.51 by halftime compared to Spurs’ 0.85, reflecting their dominance in front of goal.

Spurs’ second-half fightback falls short

Tottenham entered the second half determined to stage a comeback. But in the 60th minute, they suffered a major setback when Lankshear, fresh off his debut goal, received a second yellow card. His late tackle on Sara was deemed reckless, leaving Spurs down to ten men. It was Tottenham’s second sending-off in the Europa League this season, highlighting the growing pains of a youthful squad.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Spurs looked surprisingly sharper, as the reduced numbers opened up space for their attackers. This adjustment turned desirable in the 69th minute when Dominic Solanke found the net, bringing Spurs back into the game at 3-2.

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Pedro Porro, making an incisive run down the right, delivered a low cross that Solanke tapped in with ease. Solanke’s goal—his second in this European campaign—provided a glimmer of hope for Tottenham, who posted an improved xG of 1.87.

Galatasaray proved to be the better side overall, dominating with 10 shots on target compared to Spurs’ 3, yet they struggled with finishing and showed nerves, often losing possession in key moments. In the end, however, they managed to pull through and secure the win despite those slip-ups.

Takeaway: Lessons in defence and discipline for Tottenham

While Tottenham’s spirited effort with ten men was commendable, this match underscored areas needing improvement. The defence looked disorganised under pressure, conceding three goals for the first time in this Europa League campaign.

Spurs found it difficult to link up passes under Galatasaray’s relentless pressing, resulting in few clear opportunities. In fact, Tottenham failed to deliver a single accurate cross throughout the game, highlighting the need for improvement in creating chances in the final third.

As they shift focus to their upcoming fixture against Ipswich Town at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Spurs must address these defensive lapses and reinforce discipline.

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