UCL: Ziyech's brace and Onana's blunder deny United in Turkey

Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag was in a confident mood in Istanbul, stating that his team is in a much better shape than in October, when they lost at home to Galatasaray. And the Dutch tactician was right this time. The Red Devils played arguable their best match of the season, with plently of goal and excellent changes, but the outcome was not good - they finished the game 3-3 after leading 2-0 and 3-1 and thus left the final decision about their faith in Group A to the last round. In most of their winning games this season, United played badly but won, and this time they played exellent, scored a lot of goals but took only one point in the chaotic atmosphere created by home fans.

Why did they slip the two-goal lead twice? The answers are Hakim Ziyech and Andre Onana. Former Chelsea winger scored a brace, first one after a free kick to make it 1-2 and the second after a terrible Onana blunder to make it 2-3, before Akturkoglu's screamer denied all the good work until then. And now United has to depend on the game against mighty Bayern Munich. It was a big pressure for the English team knowing they a defeat would eliminate them from the Champions League. They also never beaten Galatasaray in Turkey, or even scored there, in three attempts. The Turks won at Old Trafford in October. Everything was against against them, but they responded brilliantly and took the lead after only 20 minutes. But the Turks fought back and even when they were down after 3-1 they didn't give up, and unlikely for the guests, Onana gave them a lifeline with a stunning blunder. United had plenty of good chances to win the game after all, but missed all of them.

First half was terrific. Plenty of chances, three goals, high tempo….everythig a Champions League game shoud have. Just after 18 minutes, the Red Devils were up by two goals. United's top scorer in the Champions League Hojlund (five goals) had the first chance of the match, before Garnacho continued his mini-scoring streak with a second consecutive goal (first ever in the Champions League). It wasn't as fancy as the one against Everton, but he won't mind. And then captain Bruno Fernandes finally stepped up and used the fact that nobody covered him to launch a thunderbolt from 25 meters ant silence the fiery Turkish crowd. On his part, Onana saved some good Galatasaray chances, and United escaped a penalty claim in the first half. But former Chelsea man Ziyech scored from a free kick in the 29th minute and the Turks continued to press (12 total shots) but the score remained the same.

Luckily for the lovers of football, the second half was also very exciting. The Red Devils scored the third goal after a Wan-Bissaka – Scott McTominay action and it seemed like the game was over. Ten Hag even made a double change after the goal (Martial and Mainoo) but Andre Onana stepped up and gave the hosts a lifeline. Ziyech took a free kick and the Cameroonian keeper totally missed the ball and suddenly the game was back on. And then Galatasaray's Akturkoglu scored his Fernandes-like goal in the 71st minute to create a pandemonium in the stands. United had two excellent chances in the space of two minutes, but both Garnacho and McTominay's shots went just near the post. Bruno Fernandes had the best chance to win in for United in the 84th minute, but his second long shot hit the bar.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Group stage - Matchday 5

Wednesday

Galatasaray - Man. Utd 3-3 (1-2)

/Ziyech 29, 62, Akturkoglu 71 - Garnacho 11, Bruno 18, McTominay /

Sevilla - PSV 2-3 (1-0)

/Ramos 24, En-Nesyri 47 - Saibari 68/

23:00: (1.25) Bayern (7.00) Copenhagen (12.0)

23:00: (1.33) Arsenal (5.10) Lens (9.50)

23:00: (2.20) Braga (3.45) Union Berlin (3.25)

23:00: (1.90) Real Madrid (3.70) Napoli (4.40)

23:00: (2.75) Benfica (3.30) Inter (2.60)

23:00: (1.52) Sociedad (4.10) Salzburg (6.50)

***odds are subject to change***