Sporting CP Fight Back to Beat Galatasaray 3-1 in Champions League
Sporting CP opened their Champions League league-phase campaign with a 3-1 win over Galatasaray at Estadio Jose Alvalade, recovering from an early own goal to take maximum points.
Sporting overturn early setback
- Galatasaray went in front when Sporting defender Goncalo Inacio turned the ball into his own net.
- Rui Borges’ side settled after a nervous opening 15 to 20 minutes, with Genny Catamo beginning the response.
- Luis Suarez then won a second-half penalty after Ismail Jakobs brought him down, before converting it himself.
- Rodrigo Zalazar completed the turnaround in the 63rd minute, bending a direct free-kick over the wall to end Galatasaray’s resistance.
Suarez has now found the net in four successive matches. The Colombian insisted the result mattered more than his scoring run, saying Sporting had grown into the game through possession and composure after their difficult start.
“Glory to God for the victory,” Suarez said. “We were nervous early on, but we knew how to improve, keep the ball and come back.”
Altimira relishes Champions League debut
Summer arrival Sergi Altimira started in midfield alongside Zalazar and praised Sporting’s tactical improvement after the interval. The Spaniard described his first Champions League appearance as a dream fulfilled after watching the competition with his father as a child.
Altimira took a late knock but confirmed he expects to be available for Sporting’s domestic commitments.
“It was another dream realised,” he said. “The start was not our best, but the reaction from the team and the second half were very good.”
Leao returns to Lisbon
Former Sporting academy player Rafael Leao entered from the bench for Galatasaray and was met by a hostile home crowd. As Sporting took control, Leao and the Turkish champions struggled to regain a foothold in the match.
Sporting now switch attention back to their title defence, with Famalicao next on the domestic schedule. Suarez said the approach in Europe will remain straightforward: Sporting will take the competition one match at a time.
