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Sporting CP defeated Galatasaray 3-1 at Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon on Wednesday, opening the 2026-27 Champions League league phase with a match that swung on an early own goal, a converted penalty and a well-struck free kick.
The Portuguese side overturned an early deficit to secure the win, sealing the result with two goals in a six-minute span midway through the second half.
Galatasaray struck first without needing to beat Sporting's goalkeeper themselves.
In the fifth minute, Davinson Sanchez's shot from close range was saved by Rui Silva, and Lucas Torreira's follow-up attempt also went off target, but the ball ultimately deflected in off Sporting defender Goncalo Inacio for an own goal, putting the visitors ahead 1-0.
Galatasaray had started the brighter of the two sides, with Roland Sallai firing over the bar in the third minute after a corner and Gabriel Sara forcing a save from Rui Silva in the seventh.
Sporting worked their way back into the match as the half progressed. Leroy Sane and Roland Sallai both had efforts saved or blocked for Galatasaray, but Sporting drew level in the 27th minute when Geny Catamo finished from the center of the box, beating Ugurcan Cakir to make it 1-1.
Sergi Altimira was booked for Sporting midway through the half for a foul on Aleksey Batrakov, while Luis Suarez picked up a yellow card of his own just before the interval. The two sides went in level at the break after Luis Suarez tested Cakir again in stoppage time, forcing another save.
Sporting took control shortly after the hour mark. In the 54th minute, Ismail Jakobs fouled Luis Suarez inside the penalty area, and Suarez converted the resulting penalty himself to put Sporting 2-1 ahead.
Galatasaray responded with substitutions, bringing on Rafael Leao for Sane, but Sporting extended the lead again in the 63rd minute when Rodrigo Zalazar curled a free kick into the top corner from a Sporting attacking position, making it 3-1.
Galatasaray pushed for a way back into the match in the closing stages but could not find the net again. Deniz Gul, who had come on as a substitute, was shown a yellow card in the 80th minute for a rough foul, having already committed fouls in the 70th and 76th minutes.
Sporting also had late opportunities, including a Sergi Altimira shot saved by Cakir and a blocked effort from Geny Catamo in the 71st minute, while Gabriel Sara sent an attempt wide for Galatasaray shortly before.
Both sides made a flurry of late substitutions, with Ilkay Gundogan and Lesley Ugochukwu entering for Galatasaray and Zeno Debast and Ivan Fresneda coming on for Sporting.
The match ran to four minutes of stoppage time, with a series of fouls in the closing sequence but no further change to the scoreline, and Sporting CP held on for a 3-1 victory.
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