Sporting Clube de Portugal came from behind to beat Galatasaray 3-1 at home on Wednesday, opening their Champions League league phase campaign with a win despite falling behind inside the first five minutes.
An own goal by Sporting captain Goncalo Inacio put the four-time Turkish champions ahead in the 5th minute. Mozambican winger Geny Catamo equalized before halftime, in the 27th minute, and Sporting completed the turnaround in the second half through a penalty from Colombian forward Luis Suarez in the 57th minute and a direct free kick from Uruguayan midfielder Rodrigo Zalazar in the 63rd.
The opening goal came from a throw-in into the Sporting box. Goalkeeper Rui Silva saved a header from Galatasaray defender Davinson Sanchez, but could not keep out the follow-up, which crossed the line. The goal was initially credited to Lucas Torreira, though it appeared to be an own goal off Inacio.
Sporting are one of 12 clubs to have won on the opening two matchdays of the Champions League's league phase, the format introduced in 2024 in which 36 teams play in a single table before the knockout rounds begin.
Sporting level before halftime
Galatasaray created several early chances. Sallai shot wide from the edge of the area in the 3rd minute, Torreira failed to convert in the 5th, and Sanchez had a shot saved by Rui Silva, assisted by Ismail Jakobs, in the same minute. Gabriel Sara also had a low shot saved in the 7th minute.
Sporting had a goal ruled out in the 19th minute after Issa Doumbia's through ball found Maxi Araujo offside before Suarez finished. Sergi Altimira was booked in the 22nd minute for a hard foul on Aleksey Batrakov, whose injury stopped play a minute later.
Catamo's equalizer arrived in the 27th minute after Araujo crossed into the Galatasaray box and the Turkish defense hesitated, leaving the ball for the Mozambican to finish left-footed. Sallai tested Rui Silva again in the 30th minute, and Leroy Sane wasted a clear chance in the 37th, cutting inside from the right unmarked before shooting over. Suarez was booked for protesting in the 43rd minute, and Rui Silva's opposite number, Ugurcan Cakir, saved a Suarez effort set up by Zalazar in first-half stoppage time.
Suarez and Zalazar complete the comeback
Sporting won a penalty in the 54th minute when Jakobs fouled Suarez, a decision confirmed after a VAR review. Suarez converted three minutes later, sending Cakir the wrong way with a powerful finish despite the goalkeeper guessing correctly. Galatasaray responded by bringing on Rafael Leao for Sane in the 58th minute.
Both sides then missed chances. Baris Alper Yilmaz headed wide from a Yunus Akgun through ball in the 60th minute, while Suarez shot wide from a promising position despite having Luis Guilherme unmarked on the left, later apologizing to his Brazilian teammate.
Zalazar put Sporting ahead for good in the 63rd minute with a direct free kick that sent the home crowd into celebration, a response from the Uruguayan midfielder after a run of less convincing performances. Galatasaray replaced the injured Batrakov with Deniz Gul in the 64th minute, and Sporting brought on Flavio Goncalves for Zalazar two minutes later.
Chances continued at both ends in the closing stages, including efforts from Guilherme, Catamo and a combination between Araujo and Altimira that ended with a save by Cakir. Gabriel Sara shot narrowly wide from outside the box in the 73rd minute after a corner set up by Rafael Leao.
Sporting made two more substitutions in the 74th minute, sending on Fotis Ioannidis for Suarez and Silas Andersen for Doumbia. Deniz Gul was booked in the 80th minute, and Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk received a yellow card in the 83rd minute after continuing to protest a decision. Rui Silva made a strong save moments later to deny a Gabriel Sara free kick.
Sporting made further changes in the 84th minute, with Ivan Fresneda replacing Georgios Vagiannidis and Zeno Debast coming on for Eduardo Quaresma. Galatasaray also freshened their lineup, bringing on Renato Nhaga for Gabriel Sara and, a minute later, Ilkay Gundogan for Yunus Akgun and Lesley Ugochukwu for Lucas Torreira.
Ismail Jakobs was shown a yellow card in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time as the match wound down. Sporting return to Champions League action on October 13, when they travel to face French club Lens.
