Early Goals Set the Tone
Manchester City moved confidently into the Champions League last 16 with a comfortable win over Galatasaray. After a shock defeat to Bodo/Glimt had threatened a play-off in February, Pep Guardiola’s side quickly put those fears to rest. Erling Haaland had an early miss but redeemed himself minutes later, finishing delicately over Galatasaray’s goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir to open the scoring. Jeremy Doku’s clever through ball and Rayan Cherki’s clinical strike doubled City’s lead, giving the hosts control well before halftime.
Dominance from Start to Finish
City’s performance was dominant from the outset, leaving little doubt about the outcome. Galatasaray’s best opportunities came from Victor Osimhen, but Gianluigi Donnarumma made key saves to keep the Blues in control. Guardiola’s men were assured of automatic progression after Benfica’s late win over Real Madrid confirmed the result, sparing City from an extra two-legged play-off next month. Haaland’s goal marked his return to form, his first open-play strike since December 20 and his 36th home goal in 28 Champions League appearances.
Looking Ahead
City now await the draw for the last 16, where they will face a team emerging from the upcoming play-offs. In domestic action, Manchester City travel to Tottenham on Sunday. Galatasaray, meanwhile, return to the Turkish Super Lig with a home game against Kayserispor, aiming to extend their lead at the top of the table. Despite their fans’ vibrant support in Manchester, the Turkish side couldn’t match City on the night, leaving stars like Ilkay Gundogan and Leroy Sane unable to make an impact.
