Good evening! Benfica will be hoping to extend their 100% to the group stage of the
Champions League on their visit to Istanbul to face a
Galatasaray side that are still looking for their first win. Let's start with a look at the teams.
GALATASARAY STARTING XI: Muslera, Chedjou, Balta, Carole, Sarioglu, Kisa, Oztekin, Inan, Sneijder, Bulut, Podolski
BENFICA STARTING XI:Cesar, Luisao, Eliseu, Silvio, Jardel, Almeida, Samaris, Gaitan, Jimenez,
Jonas, Guedes
GALATASARAY SUBSTITUTES: Gonen, Kaya, Rodriguez, Adin, Colak, Yilmaz, Gumus
BENFICA SUBSTITUTES: Ederson, Lopez, Fejsa, Andrade, Mitroglu, Pizzi, Talisca
Galatasaray have made just one change to the side that were held to a 2-2 draw by Champions League newcomers Astana last time out, with on loan defender Jason Denayer dropping out as Aurelien Chedjou comes in, having started on the bench last time out.
Having come from behind to beat Atletico Madrid in their last Champions League fixture, the visitors have made just the one change as well, with Silvio coming in in defence in place of Nelson Semedo.
Galatasaray fans will be pleased to see that Buruk Yilmaz is fit enough to be included among the substitutes, despite being listed as a doubt with a hamstring injury sustained in the 4-1 win over Genclerbirligi at the weekend, in which he scored a goal. With four goals in nine appearances so far this season, the striker could be a vital asset off the bench in the second half.
Nicolas Gaitan has been the main threat for tonight's visitors in Europe this season, having scored in both of their matches so far. However, Galatasaray will also be wary of Brazilian playmaker
Jonas, who has seven goals in eight appearances in all competitions this season, including a brace in his last league appearance against Pacos Ferreira.
Ahead of this match, Galarasaray coach
Hamza Hamzaoglu told reporters: "I reckon we're favourites. I believe we can mirror our positive run in the Super League in the UEFA Champions League. Many think that finishing third in the group and transferring to the UEFA Europa League is a more realistic aim for Galatasaray but for me we have to continue in the Champions League."
Meanwhile, Benfica's
Rui Vitoria said at his pre-match press conference: "In terms of the quality of the current team and the club's reputation, we are up against very strong opponents. We respect them but will do our utmost to come home with a win. People that know my philosophy also know that I don't like making radical changes to my squad. I don't intend to make big changes to the team, but every match demands a different strategy. I can say that you won't see big changes. We are used to playing games at this level in front of lively crowds. Once you are on the pitch, you are only up against 11 players, so I don't believe the atmosphere will give us additional difficulties."
For both sides, this match comes just ahead of big domestic derby matches, with Istanbul taking on Fenebahce in the Turkish Super Lig this weekend, while Benfica face Sporting Lisbon. They are both huge matches for the two clubs, but both sides have to be focused on this match first, particularly the hosts, who have just one point from their first two fixtures.
Here are the visitors going through their warmups a little earlier:
Elsewhere in Group C, Atletico Madrid are hosting Kazakhstan champions Astana this evening. If you want to follow that match as well, or any of the other six matches taking place this evening, you can find all of our live commentaries
here.
It's raining quite heavily in Istanbul this evening, but that doesn't seem to have bothered the ever-passionate Galtasaray supporters, as they're in fine voice as the players start to gather in the tunnel as kickoff nears.
PREDICTION! As the players head out into a not quite full Turk Telekom Arena, there's just time for a quick prediction. Despite Hamzaoglu confidently declaring his side as the favourite's for this match, Benfica have to be the more likely, having claimed maximum points from their opening two fixtures. Particularly without Yilmaz, Galatasaray don't have the same fire power as their opponents, so I'm going for a 2-1 win for the Portuguese side.
KICKOFF! The visitors get the action underway.
GOAL! Galatasaray 0-1 Benfica (Nicolas Gaitan)
Nicolas Gaitan wastes no time handing the visitors the lead, scoring his third goal in as many appearances in the Champions League this season. Jonas wins a free kick just outside the box when he's tripped by Bilal Kisa, leaving the Brazilian to delivery the ball in for his teammate, who coolly chips the ball past the keeper. What a brilliant start from Benfica.
Galatasaray are desperately trying to force an equaliser, with Podolski running through the middle looking to carve out some space on the edge of the box, before Sneijder tries to run it out from the halfway line, but the hosts look like they're still getting over the shock of conceding so early on.
Selcuk Inan makes a run down the right before crossing the ball in for
Umut Bulut, who is stood a mile offside but appears to go unnoticed by the assistant referee. Despite having only the keeper to beat from a few yards out, who put the ball well wide.
The visitors press back down the other end, but the ball gets put out for a throw in, allowing the Turkish side to force their opponents back to the halfway line. Benfica are passing the ball around with ease among the back four though, with little urgency from Galatasaray, resulting in a few whistles from the home supporters.
We told you that Nicolas Gaitan goal was quick, and it was. In fact, it's the quickest in the competition so far this season:
CHANCE! Julio Cesar is called upon for the first time this evening as Sneijder tries his luck with a free kick from 35 yards out, but there isn't enough power on it to stretch the Benfica keeper, leaving Cesar with an easy take.
Jonas plays a brilliant ball forward for
Raul Jimenez, who thinks he's away for a potential second goal of the night for Benfica, but the Mexican's run is prematurely halted as the offside flag goes up. Looking at the replay, there really wasn't a lot in it.
CHANCE! Suddenly, Galatasaray are looking dangerous down the other end with Sneijder playing the ball in for Balta, but Cesar just manages to turn it behind. Balta's delivery back in leaves the keeper flapping, but he just manages to swat the ball away from the near post.
The home side continue to run at the Benfica box, but Cesar looking a little shaky under pressure. Oztekin shows incredible pace down the left, with Bulut waiting in space in the box, but the striker's first touch is shocking, as he slices it high and wide.
PENALTY TO GALATASARAY!
BOOKING! Andre Almeida picks up a yellow card after handling the ball in the box, giving the home side a penalty.
GOAL! Galatasaray 1-1 Benfica (Selcuk Inan PEN.)
Julio Cesar had no chance of stopping that one, as Selcuk Inan absolutely buries the ball in the top left corner, just a few days after doing the same while on international duty with Turkey. Almeida protested his innocence after the ball struck his hand, but his arm was away from his body and clearly controlled the ball.
Benfica soon force a free kick in a strong position as they look to re-establish their lead, but Jimenez, who had already been caught offside once this evening, falls foul of an offside trap as Eliseu curls the ball in towards the Mexican forward.
Nicolas Gaitan wins the ball back for the Portuguese side, looking to get a cross in from the left, but he hesitates too long, allowing Carole to force a mistake from the scorer of the opening goal, but the hosts are unable to make the most of their opportunity as they go on the counter-attack.
CHANCE! Gaitan is involved again as Eliseu cuts the ball back to the edge of the box where the winger is rushing forward, hitting it low on his weaker foot, but Muslera just about gets down in time to make the save.
CHANCE! Realising that Benfica are starting to dominate again, the home side try to make a move down the other end again, with Podolski using a brilliant first touch in the box to leave himself with some space, but his second touch is shocking as his weakly brushes the ball wide.
GOAL! Galatasaray 2-1 Benfica (Lukas Podolski)
How things have changed since Benfica shocked the Istanbul crowd with a goal in the second minute.
Lukas Podolski brings into the box, beating Jardel for pace to meet a long ball forward. The former Arsenal man hits it first time, slicing it with the outside of his left foot between the legs of Julio Cesar to put the home side ahead for the first time. What a turnaround!
Benfica are building some pressure on the edge of the Galatasaray box, with Eliseu, Samaris and Jardel all moving the ball around down the right. Samaris is penalised for a foul on Kisa though, preventing him from getting a cross in towards the waiting Gaitan.
Samaris tries an ambitious ball through the middle looking for Jonas, but Podolski is back to help make the block as Benfica continue to attack. Aside from a quiet five minutes after Inan's equalising penalty, this has been a really high-tempo, lively encounter so far, and neither side are showing any sign of slowing down.
CHANCE! Oztekin gives away a free kick when he brings down Guedes on the right flank around 20 yards out. Gaitan stands over it, and tries to squeeze it in at the near post, but Muslera gets across to make the save.
BOOKING! Bilal Kisa is the first Galatasaray player in the referee's book for a late sliding challenge on Jonas.
Galatasaray are looking to finish the first half on the front foot as Sneijder controls the ball near the corner flag before setting up Oztekin to put the cross in. There's no-one in the box to meet it, but Podolski gets a chance from the left-hand side of the box moments later, only to scuff it well wide. He furiously protests for a corner, believing that it must have taken a deflection, but it did not.
HALF TIME: Galatasaray 2-1 Benfica
Well, what a lively first half it's been between Group C rivals Galatasaray and Benfica. It looked like the home side were going to be in trouble when Nicolas Gaitan gave the Portuguese side the lead inside two minutes, but Galatasaray have shown their character to lead at the break thanks to goals from Selcuk Inan and Lukas Podolski. Given the way the opening 45 minutes has been played though, it would be a surprise if the scoreline doesn't change again in the second half.
In the opening 45 minutes, the visitors just edged the possession with 53%, but it was Galatasaray who had the majority of the chances, with eight shots and four on target, twice as many as their opponents in both categories. They've also given away more fouls though, with 10 to Benfica's seven.
Here's the moment Gaitan broke the deadlock, chipping the ball beyond Muslera just 114 seconds after kickoff. The midfielder has continued to look the best chance of a goal for the Portuguese side, and he has scored in every match for them in the group stage of the competition.
© Getty Images
UPDATE: In the other match in Group C, Atletico Madrid are 2-0 up against Astana at the Vicente Calderon. If both matches were to finish now, Atletico and Benfica would be level on six points.
The players are starting to head back out ready for the second half.
RESTART! Galatasaray get the second 45 minutes underway.
CHANCE! After a fairly quiet opening couple of minutes,
Fernando Muslera suddenly finds himself having to be alert as Samaris squares the ball to Jonas, who hits it first time from the edge of the area, but the shot is at a comfortable height for the keeper.
OFF THE POST! Galatasaray are a fraction away from a third goal as
Wesley Sneijder attempts the drive the ball into the bottom left, but it takes a wicked deflection off one of the visiting defenders, completely wrong-footing the keeper, but the deflection is just enough to guide it onto the right post and away from danger.
CHANCE! Julio Cesar is certainly being tested early in this second half as the home side force a corner, which Sneijder delivers to Hakan Balta at the near post. He flicks it on to
Umut Bulut, but the striker's finish is kept out by a reaction save from the keeper.
CHANCE! Benfica try to ease the pressure on Cesar with a quick break towards the Galatasaray goal. Gaitan unleashes a low drive, but it's just a couple of inches wide of the right post.
CHANCE! Benfica have started to show a bit more urgency in the last five minutes as they seek an equaliser, with Gaitan continuing to be involved in everything, flicking the ball on for
Raul Jimenez, only to see his strike-partner denied at the near post by the keeper.
SUB! The home side are the first to make a change, as Yasim Oztekin makes way for Olcan Adin. The midfielder has looked sharp so far this evening, so must have picked up a knock to be withdrawn so early.
CHANCE! A mis-hit corner from Guedes completed catches the Gatalasaray defence out, allowing Gaitan to blast the ball towards the goal from the edge of the penalty area, but Muslera spots it at the last minute to palm it away.
BOOKING! Selcuk Inan handles the ball following a free kick for Benfica, with Samaris denied as the Galatasaray captain punches the ball away, earning him a booking.
Benfica continue to look the more likely as Luisao floats a high ball forward towards Jonas, but the home side clear it, allowing Umut Bulut to press down the other end. The striker is lacking options in the box, but he pulls it back to Podolski, who hammers it from 25 yards out, just missing the top corner.
SUB! Benfica make their first change of the night, replacing Eliseu with Pizzi. It's a striker replacing a defender for the trailing visitors.
CHANCE! Jonas looks like he's sent the keeper the wrong way as he tries to slot the ball into the bottom left, but his teammate Raul Jimenez is in the way, accidentally deflecting the ball behind for a goal kick. That would almost certainly have beaten Muslera if Jimenez hadn't been there.
BOOKING! The referee is reaching for his yellow card again as Hakan Balta wrestles Gaitan to the ground, despite the Benfica goalscorer trying his hardest to stay on his feet.
Gaitan puts in a rare mis-placed pass, giving the ball away to the hosts. Sarioglu brings it out from the back, with Sneijder alongside him in support, but the defender tries to play the through-ball, and it comes to nothing.
BOOKING! It's another yellow card, this time to Andreas Samaris for a late challenge on Bilal Kisa. It's a costly one for Benfica though, as the midfielder will be suspended for their next Champions League fixture.
CHANCE! Andre Almeida has tried his luck with a few attempts from just outside the box this evening, and he takes another one on. It looks like one of his better attempts, but Lionel Carole just manages to deflect it behind.
SUB! The visitors make their second change of the night, and it's another striker coming on as Victor Andrade replaces young midfielder Goncalo Guedes.
SUB! The change the home fans have been waiting for is being made by Galatasaray as Burak Yilmaz is coming on for Umut Bulut, having returned from a four-week absence with a hamstring injury at the weekend.
BOOKING! Andrade hasn't been on all that long, but he's already on a yellow card after a clumsy challenge on Adin.
With four strikers on the pitch, Benfica look to get the ball forward again, but that leaves them vulnerable on the counter-attack as Podolski wins the ball back from Pizzi, but he's lacking teammates forward in support. Burak Yilmaz soon gets the ball back though, but Adin is offside as the ball is played forward.
SUB! It's now five strikers on for Benfica as Kostas Mitroglu, the Fulham loanee, takes the place of Silvio.
CHANCE! Having taken a couple of defenders off to chase the equaliser, Benfica leave themselves wide open at the back, allowing Sarioglu to get forward and set up Lukas Podolski. He hits the ball with so much power, but it was always rising.
CHANCE! Benfica quickly get back down the other end with time running out if they're going to get anything from this. Mitroglu looks to have an immediate impact from the bench as he meets a ball played down the left, but he can only turn the ball into the side-netting.
The visitors win a throw in near the corner flag, which Almeida launches deep into the box. Mitroglu tries to find himself some space to get the header away, but Chedjou beats him to it, almost turning it into his own net.
CHANCE! Julio Cesar has to make another save as the home side charge back towards the Benfica goal, with Yilmaz squaring the ball for Sneijder, but a diving save from the keeper denied the midfielder. There's more bad news for Sneijder though, as he appears to have rolled his ankle as he got the shot away.
BOOKING! Actually, it was a late boot in from Luisao that has left Sneijder wincing, earning the Benfica defender a card.
CHANCE! As Sneijder limps off for treatment, Benfica race back down the other end, resulting in a shot for Jimenez, but the finish ends up going wide. As things stand, this man's first-half goal is going to be the winner:
CHANCE! It's end to end stuff in the final moments of this match as Sneijder, having shaken off the challenge of Luisao a few moments earlier, plays the ball in for Yilmaz, but the substitute's low strike is thumped wide. Benfica have a free kick in a dangerous position down the other end though.
CHANCE! For the second time in the space of a few minutes, Chedjou is just inches from an own goal as Gaitan curls the ball in for Jimenez, but the defender just about manages to glance it over the bar. Meanwhile, there are four minutes of stoppage time to come.
Almeida launches another long throw, which falls for Pizzi on the edge of the box, but Sneijder is there is block it. Andrade tries to deliver it back in, and wins a free kick when a reckless challenge from Olcan Adin halts his run. Galatasaray are living dangerously in the final moments of this match.
SUB! Bilal Kisa limps off, with Jose Rodriguez coming on for a late cameo.
Gaitan eventually curls the ball in from the free kick, but it goes straight into the hands of Muslera.
BOOKING! Burak Yilmaz is wrongly flagged for offside, venting his frustrations at the referee as a result, picking up a yellow card for his troubles.
FULL TIME: Galatasaray 2-1 Benfica
The referee blows for full time, despite the visitors forcing a corner. Benfica surround the referee, pleading for the set piece, but Scottish referee Willie Collum had already played more than the four minutes allotted, so that's that.
It certainly was an entertaining match this evening, with Galatasaray coming from behind to secure their first win in the group stage. The players are still in the pitch, applauding the home supporters. It looked like it was going to be a long night for the Turkish champions after falling behind to an early Nicolas Gaitan effort, but they were ahead before the break, and survived a late storm from Benfica to secure the three points.
UPDATE: In the other fixture in Group C, Atletico Madrid thrashed Astana 4-0. Benfica stay top though, level on points with the Spanish side, who they beat last time out.
So, that's all from this match, but you can catch up with all the action from this evening's Champions League fixtures
here, and don't forget to join us again tomorrow for action from the Europa League. Until then, thanks for joining me this evening. Goodbye.