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Hours before Galatasaray’s Champions League clash with Liverpool, fans of the Turkish side gathered outside the English team’s hotel in Istanbul late on Monday night, launching a prolonged fireworks display aimed at disturbing the players’ rest.
Supporters lit hundreds of fireworks in the street, creating scenes more akin to a stadium atmosphere than a residential area. Chants and songs echoed through the night as the group sought to unsettle Liverpool before Tuesday’s game at RAMS Park.
Footage shared online showed the sky above the hotel lit up with bursts of red and white, with the noise reverberating through nearby streets. Mobile phone recordings quickly spread on social media platforms, highlighting the intensity of the supporters’ effort.
Fans accompanying the fireworks chanted Galatasaray songs, turning the late-night gathering into a continuation of the club’s reputation for passionate support.
The atmosphere adds to the backdrop of Tuesday night’s match, where Galatasaray will defend a 27-game unbeaten streak at home.
The Turkish champion, beaten 5–1 by Eintracht Frankfurt in its opening group game, is seeking to collect its first points of the campaign against a Liverpool side accustomed to high-pressure environments.
Both teams are expected to field strong line-ups for the clash. Galatasaray’s potential starting eleven includes Ugurcan in goal; Singo, Sanchez, Abdulkkerim, and Jakobs in defense; Torreira and Lemina in midfield; Yunus, Ilkay, and Baris supporting Osimhen in attack.
Liverpool is likely to respond with Alisson in goal; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, and Robertson across the back; Gravenberch and Mac Allister in midfield; and a front four of Salah, Szoboszlai, Wirtz, and Ekitike.
The kickoff is scheduled for 10:00 p.m. local time (GMT+3) at RAMS Park, with a capacity crowd expected to continue the intensity displayed outside the hotel.
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