Those Crazy Turks!
From where, to where…
(This is a Turkish saying. Please do not change the settings of the device you are reading this on.)
When I think about what was said when Galatasaray was seriously injured away at Eintracht Frankfurt, I can’t help but see the contrast in our country’s football and how things are progressing in a “things change in 5 minutes” way.
When the fixtures were first set, we all knew that Galatasaray needed to earn at least 4 points from their first 3 matches to qualify for the top 24, but we certainly didn’t factor any of those 4 points into the upcoming match against Liverpool, who were going undefeated at the time. Especially when Galatasaray left Frankfurt with serious injuries at the most critical juncture on the road to those 4 points, the questions asked about the Liverpool match evolved from “Wow, no way?” to “How many we’ll eat?” However, today, after Galatasaray took a turn outside the boundaries set for them, first securing three points from a historic victory against Liverpool, and then defeating Bodo in the third gear, the questions on everyone’s minds shifted again. Now, the calculations for the top eight began.
After losing the first match, it took only a month for us to go from expecting a historic victory against Liverpool to being in the top eight.
What can I say? We’re a nation that enjoys living on the edge.
It’s time for the next step for Qarabagh FK
While Karabakh’s first European Cup participation was the 1996-97 Cup Winners’ Cup, it was 2009 that they began to participate regularly in Europe. After four seasons of elimination, three times in the Play-Offs and once in the Third Qualifying Round, they qualified for the Europa League group stage for the first time in their history in 2014-15.
The 2017-18 season saw them overcome their habit of exiting the Champions League in the knockout stages and continuing their journey through the Europa League group stages. This meant that after three Europa League seasons, finishing third in two groups and fourth in one, an Azerbaijani team qualified for the Champions League group stage for the first time in history. In other words, the stages were progressed one by one, and Qarabağ was represented in the Blue, Red, and Green Flags, and in the Cup 1. Just like in the Europa League.
I’ll briefly explain what happened next:
Qarabağ became the first Azerbaijani team to advance from the Conference League group stage of a UEFA tournament. – 2021-22
Qarabağ became the first Azerbaijani team to advance from the Europa League group stage of a Europa League. 2023-24
Qarabağ became the first Azerbaijani team to advance from the group stage of a UEFA tournament by eliminating Braga in the Europa League Play-Offs. 2023-24
(I should mention that they were eliminated in extra time in the Round of 16 by Bayer Leverkusen, who would finish that season undefeated as Bundesliga champions, and that they played a third of the match with 10 men.)
Karabağ defeated Benfica, becoming the first Azerbaijani team to win the Champions League. – 2025-26
What I mean is, Karabağ has been walking this path for a long time. First, they climbed hills, then mountains. Sometimes they fell, sometimes they stumbled, but they kept going. Now, there’s a new hill ahead: advancing to the next round of the Champions League.
The fixtures are tough, the road is long and rocky. But Karabağ are quite successful in their pursuit.
Roma wasn’t built in one season.
I don’t know what the Kairat Almaty fans think about their team’s first three Champions League matches, but I suspect they’re not very happy. Are they partly right? Should they be hopeless? Absolutely not!
It’s been a while since Kairat surpassed the limits set for them this season. The first time Champions League music played in their stadium, Kairat was actually successful. Is it enough? Of course not, but to be fair to the title, Roma wasn’t built in a day either.
So, what needs to be understood is this: Even just one point from the first three matches of their first season is too important to overlook. Leading Kazakhstan to the Champions League after 10 seasons is too important to overlook. In short, being here is important.
As long as you’re here, one point becomes three, then five, then eight. One day, the end of the league stage will be the next round. Just keep trying. And keep trying.
Being here is a significance unlike anywhere else.
Yılmazcan Altuğ
Eintracht Frankfurt – Galatasaray (5-1)
Although the Turkish representative scored the opening goal in this match, they ended the game with a defeat. The main reason for Galatasaray’s loss was the team becoming too relaxed after scoring an early goal. In the 8th minute, Yunus Akgün gave his team the lead by converting Leroy Sané’s assist. If they had continued to fight with full determination instead of becoming complacent, everything could have been totally different. Frankfurt, however, is a team with strong European experience. They took advantage of Galatasaray’s comfort, skillfully scoring goals one after another. In the second half, Frankfurt maintained their attacking superiority; Jonathan Burkardt scored his second goal in the 66th minute, and in the 75th minute, Ansgar Knauff completed the match with a 5–1 result. In the end, Galatasaray’s early-goal enthusiasm and tactical and individual mistakes knocked them out of the game in dramatic fashion. Their loss of concentration and confusion in defense resulted in a heavy outcome against such a strong opponent.
Galatasaray – Liverpool (1–0)
This result became a great motivation for the Turkish side, as Galatasaray secured a home win in the Champions League without conceding a goal for the first time in a long while. In this match, Galatasaray established a very solid and compact defensive structure against Liverpool’s attacking pressure. Keeping a clean sheet against a team with such strong offensive power as Liverpool is a major achievement. The only goal came in the 16th minute, when Victor Osimhen successfully converted a penalty. The home team’s strong morale and psychological control throughout the game had a direct impact on their performance. Although Liverpool had more possession during the match, Galatasaray effectively slowed down their main attacking players and limited their transitions through midfield.
Galatasaray – Bodo/Glimt (3–1)
This match was crucial for both teams, and it marked Bodo/Glimt’s first defeat in the competition. However, it created a great opportunity for Galatasaray. The Turkish side started the game with high tempo and excitement, and Victor Osimhen put them ahead in the 3rd minute. That opening goal had a clear psychological impact on the opponent. In the 33rd minute, a defensive mistake from Bodo/Glimt led to the second goal. Yunus Akgün scored the third goal in the 60th minute, making it 3–0. Although the away team managed to score in the 76th minute, it was too late to change the outcome.
Benfica – Qarabağ (2–3)
Qarabağ claimed victory in this match. The team started the game 2–0 behind, but in the 30th minute Leandro Andrade made it 2–1. Then, in the 86th minute, Oleksiy Kashchuk scored the winning goal, securing a historic achievement for Qarabağ. The key strength of the Azerbaijani side was their remarkable resilience and high morale despite trailing on the scoreboard. Turning a 2–0 deficit into a 3–2 win requires tremendous psychological and physical effort. Even though they conceded early goals, they managed to regain defensive and midfield organization. In the second half, they formed a more compact structure in attack, capitalizing on counter-attacks and the opponent’s mistakes. As a result, they earned a magnificent victory.
Qarabağ – Copenhagen
In this match, the home team stepped onto the pitch at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium with great psychological strength and high morale. The goals were scored by Abdellah Zoubir and, in the 83rd minute, Emmanuel Addai. Throughout the match, possession was mostly dominated by Qarabağ. Although many fans considered this result unbelievable, the Azerbaijani representative made it happen. The outcome of this match gave Qarabağ special motivation to prepare strongly for the upcoming games.
Athletic Bilbao – Qarabağ (3–1)
- Qarabağ scored an early goal at the beginning of the match. In the 1st minute, Leandro Andrade took advantage of a defensive gap in Athletic Bilbao’s defense to put the ball in the net. However, the opponent’s response was not long in coming. In the 40th minute, Gorka Guruzeta scored the equalizer. In the second half, Athletic Bilbao took control. Robert Navarro scored in the 70th minute, and Guruzeta scored again in the 88th minute to seal the match result.
By scoring in the first minute, Qarabağ showed that they were strong and did not give the opponent many chances. However, they struggled to maintain consistency, gradually falling behind against the opposition. More control over possession and productivity in attack were required. Managing the game without falling behind and creating more opportunities was not possible. Although the Azerbaijani side started fast, defensive gaps later in the match led to their defeat.
Kairat Almaty – Real Madrid (0–5)
This match was extremely tough for Kairat Almaty. Real Madrid demonstrated complete dominance by winning 5–0. Almaty started the game strongly and created some chances at Real’s goal. However, their defensive line showed vulnerabilities, which the opponent exploited to score consecutive goals. Almaty struggled with possession and lacked passing accuracy. Real Madrid controlled the game by keeping the ball and dictating the pace. At the group stage level, Almaty’s inexperience was very noticeable. Both their tactical awareness and experience were weak. This match served as a test for Almaty, and moving forward, they need to prepare more thoroughly for their upcoming games.
Sporting – Kairat Almaty (4–1)
The team started the match as the underdog on the opponent’s field but initially showed resistance, especially in the first half when Sporting had not yet fully established dominance. In the 21st minute, although a penalty was awarded to Sporting, the young goalkeeper managed to save it. Edmilson scored in the 86th minute, which provided the team with special motivation during the match. In the second half, it was clear that Almaty was not fully prepared tactically or physically. Their inability to maintain possession and defensive weaknesses ultimately led to their defeat.
Kairat Almaty – Pafos (0–0)
In this match, Pafos was reduced to 10 players in the 4th minute when Loao Correia received a red card, giving Almaty a clear advantage. The team tried to use this situation to create opportunities. Almaty’s defensive line remained stable, and several significant scoring chances arose during the game. However, the lack of effectiveness in their attacks was noticeable. Throughout the match, they needed to maintain concentration and take risks to capitalize on the numerical advantage, but they did not do so. Despite the goalless draw, the match provided an opportunity for Almaty. Even without scoring, they should take lessons from this situation. Moving forward, Kairat’s main goal should be to finish such games with a victory.
Banuçiçek Hüseyinli
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