Sporting fight back to beat Galatasaray in Champions League opener

This was the encounter between the two European clubs and Sporting secured a three‑point win. Geny Catamo evened the score after Goncalo Inacio scored a goal. Then Luis Suarez turned a penalty into a goal. Rodrigo Zalazar delivered a superb free‑kick.

Match highlight

Galatasaray began the game brightly. Davinson Sanchez had the opportunity after just three minutes heading Gabriel Sara’s cross wide. Three minutes later he troubled Sporting again when he met Eren Elmali’s throw and headed the ball.

Rui Silva stopped the shot and cleared the ball yet Galatasaray kept pressing. Lucas Torreira. In the ensuing scramble Goncalo Inacio headed the ball into his own net.

Gabriel Sara then tried a shot against Rui Silva as the visitors sought a swift second goal.

Sporting settled in taking control of possession. Luis Suarez had a goal in the minute but it was disallowed because an earlier player was offside.

The hosts found their equaliser seven minutes later. Galatasaray could not clear the area and Catamo capitalised on the lapse. The winger fired a left‑footed shot into the bottom corner making the score 1‑1.

Leroy Sane almost regained the lead for Galatasaray before half‑time but his left‑footed shot hit the crossbar.

Sporting took the lead an over ten minutes after the restart. Suarez beat Ugurcan Cakir. Fell after a challenge from Ismail Jakobs. Referee Espen Eskas pointed to the penalty spot. Var confirmed the incident before the decision stood.

Suarez remained calm after the delay. He sent a penalty into the right corner. Cakir guessed the direction. Could not stop the shot.

Okan Buruk introduced former Sporting academy player Rafael Leao to a chorus of boos from the home crowd. Sporting had already taken the momentum.

Zalazar then sealed the result after the hour. On his Champions League debut after moving from Braga he bent a free‑kick into the top corner.

Galatasaray could not find a way. The defeat extended their winless streak against teams to six matches, one draw and five losses.

Sporting, who reached the Champions League quarter‑finals season kept a strong record against Turkish clubs. They have lost two of 11 matches against Turkish opponents winning six and drawing three.

Sporting needed a response, after the setback and they delivered calm attacking football after the break. Catamo changed the course of the match while Suarez and Zalazar ensured Galatasaray left Lisbon empty‑handed.