Shambolic Spurs defence humiliated by Galatasaray
This was a game that had all the chaos of a clown show, and unfortunately for Tottenham Hotspur, they delivered most of the slapstick.
It was, depending on your sense of humour, and how stressful you find a mistake-ridden performance like this, a lot of fun to watch.
Galatasaray are gloriously bonkers, constantly attacking, constantly throwing players forward, even when they should have been trying to see the game out late in the second half.
This also remains one of the loudest, most boisterous stadiums in Europe, the noise generated by the crowd making the air vibrate when they score a goal, while the loud whistles that accompany any visiting team who keep the ball for any length of time are piercing and distracting.
At no stage did Spurs look comfortable. They struggled to cope with the occasion as well as the opponent. Galatasaray are undoubtedly dangerous but Tottenham made it easy for them to dominate. They clearly still have serious problems to address, especially in defence.
The defeat is one thing and it is not disastrous to Spurs’ chances of reaching the knockout rounds of the Europa League, but to lose a game in this fashion; without any semblance of control or composure, is worrying for Ange Postecoglou and his players.
You can point to the fact this was a young side, with three teenagers in the starting XI, but that does not really offer an excuse for the defensive frailties that were once again exposed by a team with Galatasaray’s speed and guile, as well as a centre-forward in Victor Osimhen dangerous enough to punish them.
So often did a Spurs player give the ball away, so frequently did they make a mistake or fail to stick close to, or track, the man they were supposed to be marking. It was embarrassingly bad.
Galatasaray scored three goals in the first half and it should have been more. Osimhen, who ran Spurs ragged with his movement and pace, scored twice, but missed two more wonderful chances when he was left with only goalkeeper Fraser Forster to beat.
What a cross, what a finish 💫
Dries Mertens and Victor Osimhen combine once again to increase Galatasaray's lead to 3-1 over Tottenham 🤝
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/jfWCs9Krpf— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 7, 2024
Somehow, amid the carnage and chaos, Spurs scored two of their own – a first senior goal for the 19-year-old Will Lankshear – who soured his memories of this night by getting himself sent off for two bookable offences, in the space of just seven minutes, midway through the second half – and substitute Dominic Solanke.
Things go from bad to worse for Tottenham 😬
19-year-old Will Lankshear receives a second yellow card and is sent off for Spurs 🟥
📺@tntsports&@discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/MsWdKPqWzO— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 7, 2024
That made the game seem closer than it was but the Spurs goal was bombarded throughout. Galatasaray missed chance after chance, Osimhen putting a header over and then somehow sending Forster the wrong way with a shot from 10 yards only to see the ball saved by the giant goalkeeper’s feet. Forster made another couple of wonderful saves to keep the scoreline respectful.
Okan Buruk’s side had 27 shots on goal and most of them would fall into the good chance not taken category.
For more than an hour, until the home crowd got a little nervous about their team’s failure to kill the game off, Spurs looked incapable of stopping them getting in on goal.
After back-to-back victories, Postecoglou’s side had supposedly rediscovered their best form, calming things down after a volatile and tetchy start to the season. This was a reminder of their frailties.
Galatasaray sliced through them with such regularity, with such simple football, they had no place to hide. Postecoglou was as positive as he could be after the game, but he knows his team were given the runaround.
“The first half wasn’t great,” said the Australian. “We didn’t handle things well at all, particularly with the ball, we kept giving it away all the time. Most of it was self-inflicted. They controlled the game better than we did.”
As for Osimhen, having been linked with a host of elite clubs, while trying to force his exit out of Napoli over the last 12 to 18 months, it was a shock to see him end up on loan at Galatasaray.
The 25-year-old was electric, his movement off the ball as good as his finishing. He had seven big chances in the game and also had a goal ruled out for offside. He will feel he should have gone home with a hat-trick and the match ball as a memento.
Quite why he is not playing for an elite club is a mystery – although it may have had something to do with excessive wage demands. Galatasaray have seen him score six goals in eight appearances, but they do not think they can afford to make the move a permanent one at the end of the season. The Nigeria international will have plenty of admirers in the Premier League and beyond.
Tottenham’s five most comical moments
Leicester loanee with a goal from the gods
Perhaps we should have known this game was going to be a little crazy when the former Leicester City loanee Yunus Akgun hit a bouncing ball, which was moving away from goal and appeared to be slightly too behind him to be able connect with it sweetly, into the top corner from outside the area. Most people would been urging him not to try and shoot right up until the moment the net rippled.
What a strike from Yunus Akgun 🚀
Galatasaray take an early lead against Tottenham thanks to an absolute rocket of a finish 😱
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/CYVObu3GFg— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 7, 2024
Lankshear’s topsy-turvy evening
This was only the second time the 19-year-old has started for Spurs and he will always cherish the memory of his first goal, stabbing the ball into the roof of the net from six yards and then basking in the glory in front of Galatasaray’s seething supporters. It was a confident celebration but he followed that up be getting sent off after two bookings in seven minutes in the second half…
Dragusin’s kamikaze defending
He appeared to be playing in the wrong boots in the first half, or clown shoes as one wag put it at half-time. The Romania international kept passing the ball out of defence straight to a Galatasaray player and it was his blunder that led directly to Osimhen’s opening goal.
Give Victor Osimhen a chance and he will take it 🔥
Galatasaray re-take the lead against Tottenham 💥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/nXobvZpICu— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 7, 2024
Forster diving the wrong way… and still denying Osimhen
The Nigerian should have had at least three goals, probably more, but Galatasaray’s evening in front of goal was neatly summed up in the second half when the Spurs goalkeeper was lured into diving the wrong way by the striker, only for his shot to hit the trailing boot and bounce clear.
Maddison tripping over his own feet
Maybe the England international had the wrong studs in but the calamatious nature of the Tottenham performance was summed up when Maddison tried to dribble down the wing, tripped over his own feet and the ball trickled out for a Galatasaray throw.
08:04 PM GMT
Up next...
Manchester United host PAOK in the Europa League. You can follow our dedicated coverage of that fixture here.
The Europa Conference League tie between Chelsea and Noah has also just kicked off at Stamford Bridge. Follow all the latest updates from Telegraph Sport here.
08:00 PM GMT
Osimhen caused Tottenham all sorts of issues
what Osimhen did tonight pic.twitter.com/JMOaXlxor5
— Galatasaray EN (@Galatasaray) November 7, 2024
07:58 PM GMT
Match stats
Shots: Galatasaray 28 Tottenham 5
On target: Galatasaray 10 Tottenham 3
Possession: Galatasaray 54% Tottenham 46%
Yellow cards: Galatasaray 3 Tottenham 4
Offsides: Galatasaray 4 Tottenham 3
Quite remarkable that it was only a one-goal difference...
07:52 PM GMT
A rollercoaster for Lankshear
■ 18' First senior goal for Spurs and celebrates in front of Galatasaray fans
■ 60' Sent off for a second yellow card
It's been a rollercoaster of emotions for 19-year-old Will Lankshear 🎢 pic.twitter.com/VkQbpWyLhw— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 7, 2024
07:47 PM GMT
Full-time: Galatasaray 3 Tottenham 2
Galatasaray rocket to the top of the Europa League as Tottenham slip up for the first time in the competition.
Osimhen’s brace and Akgun’s rocket were enough to secure the win for the hosts. Meanwhile Tottenham suffered under their relentless pressure and were further disadvantaged by Lankshear’s sending off - on the same night he scored his first senior goal for the club.
Solanke pulled one back and the visitors piled the pressure on in the closing stages of the game but, ultimately, it wasn’t enough.
A great night for the home fans at RAMS Park.
07:42 PM GMT
90+4 mins: Galatasaray 3 Tottenham 2
Yilmaz takes a shot from outside the box. It is a sloppy attempt and goes wide of the target.
Torreira is the ninth player of the night to receive a booking.
07:40 PM GMT
90+2 mins: Galatasaray 3 Tottenham 2
A big chance for Tottenham.
The ball is played forward to Solanke but the Galatasaray goalkeeper comes way out of his box to head it away.
It falls to Kulusevski in midfield who decides to take a shot at the open goal from long range. His effort flies just wide.
Bentancur is the latest Tottenham player to receiving a booking.
07:37 PM GMT
90 mins: Galatasaray 3 Tottenham 2
Seven minutes of additional time to play... Could there be one more goal in this game?
07:36 PM GMT
89 mins: Galatasaray 3 Tottenham 2
Tottenham have a throw-in next to the corner flag.
Porro throws it to Kulusevski who wrestles into the box through two Galatasaray players.
He can’t find a way past and the ball rolls to the goalkeeper.
07:35 PM GMT
85 mins: Galatasaray 3 Tottenham 2
The hosts have lost some of their momentum in these closing stages as Tottenham seek out the draw.
A nervy final few minutes to this game for both sides...
07:30 PM GMT
81 mins: Galatasaray 3 Tottenham 2
Forster plays the ball out and Icardi appears to go down injured just in front of the goalkeeper.
Replays show that the pair don’t actually collide - but the forward appears to be in lots of pain and points to his knee, suggesting perhaps a bigger issue. He is eventually stretchered off the pitch - it doesn’t look good.
He is replaced by former Chelsea striker Batshuayi.
Sara also goes off and is replaced by Kutlu.
07:27 PM GMT
77 mins: Galatasaray 3 Tottenham 2
Akgun is once again through on goal. He takes a shot from the left but drags it wide, then falls to the floor with cramp.
Galatasaray make a couple more changes.
There won’t be a hat-trick for Osimhen tonight as he is taken off alongside Akgun. They are replaced by Jelert and Demirbay.
07:24 PM GMT
75 mins: Galatasaray 3 Tottenham 2
Ziyech glides through the Tottenham defence and passes forward to Icardi.
He is through on goal and shoots. His effort slots into the bottom left corner but it is quickly judged to be offside.
07:22 PM GMT
74 mins: Galatasaray 3 Tottenham 2
Galatasaray have had 27 attempts on the Tottenham goal - it is incredible that they are not further ahead.
Meawhile, Tottenham have had three. All three were on target - and two of those were their goals.
07:20 PM GMT
72 mins: Galatasaray 3 Tottenham 2
A change for Galatasaray as Mertens makes way for Ziyech.
Yes, ex-Chelsea Ziyech - a familiar face who has scored against Tottenham on multiple occasions. Not someone the visitors will be too pleased to see.
07:17 PM GMT
GOAL!
Galatasaray 3 Tottenham 2 (Solanke, 68)
An instant impact from the striker!!
It is quite remarkable that Tottenham are the first team to score in this second half.
Solanke collects the ball from Porro just in front of the goal and, with his back turned, makes a clever flick to send it home.
Game on, perhaps...
Is a comeback on the cards? 👀
Dominic Solanke with a smooth back-heel finish to pull a goal back for Tottenham 👏✨
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/a9JWBnYdEF— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 7, 2024
07:14 PM GMT
66 mins: Galatasaray 3 Tottenham 1
Postecoglou rings the changes. Maddison and Bergvall make way for Sarr and Solanke.
As Glenn Hoddle remarks on commentary, the manager opted to take off two players who were not on a yellow card. Let’s hope that decision doesn’t backfire...
07:12 PM GMT
63 mins: Galatasaray 3 Tottenham 1
Bissouma also received a booking for his protestations against Lankshear’s sending off. The number of Tottenham players in the referee’s book is growing rather quickly.
07:11 PM GMT
62 mins: Galatasaray 3 Tottenham 1
It’s basically shooting practice for Galatasaray at the moment - a marvel that they haven’t scored so far in this second half.
Yilmaz shoots and forces Forster to parry, before Galatasaray attack again. Akgun sends a powerful volley towards goal from close range but Forster makes a strong block to deny the hosts.
He is single-handedly withstanding the pressure for his side, with Tottenham’s defence really struggling.
07:09 PM GMT
59 mins: Galatasaray 3 Tottenham 1
Lankshear receives his second yellow after taking out Sara and is sent off.
A tough night for the teenager as he earlier scored his first senior goal in the same game.
Tottenham down to ten men.
07:05 PM GMT
57 mins: Galatasaray 3 Tottenham 1
The first bit of action down the other end of the pitch in this half of the game.
Lankshear collects the ball inside the box from Kulusevski and shoots from close range. His effort is too tame and is easily collected by the goalkeeper.
07:04 PM GMT
56 mins: Galatasaray 3 Tottenham 1
A cross is played to Osimhen who waits, unmarked, in the Tottenham box.
He shoots but Forster manages to get a foot to it and makes an important block.
The striker could have had five or six goals in this game.
07:02 PM GMT
54 mins: Galatasaray 3 Tottenham 1
More Tottenham errors in front of goal gives the hosts three more chances in very quick succession, two of which fall to Icardi. Playing out from the back really isn’t working for the visitors at the moment.
07:00 PM GMT
51 mins: Galatasaray 3 Tottenham 1
Osimhen should have his hat-trick. He collects the ball from Mertens inside the box and heads it towards goal, however it loops over the crossbar.
Lankshear receives a booking after throwing an arm into his marker as he attempted to gain possession.
06:57 PM GMT
49 mins: Galatasaray 3 Tottenham 1
Sara takes the free-kick from the left and floats the ball into the box.
Forster comes out to catch it but somehow misses... Abdulkerim takes a shot from close range but Bentancur makes an important block to deny the hosts.
It goes out behind for a corner which Mertens takes. Akgun shoots from close range and his effort is on target but Dragusin manages to head it away from danger.
The hosts could have already scored two or three more in the opening five minutes of this half...
06:55 PM GMT
48 mins: Galatasaray 3 Tottenham 1
Kulusevski is booked after just two minutes on the pitch.
He gives the ball away then takes down Osimhen as he attempts to regain possession.
Galatasaray have a free-kick...
06:53 PM GMT
46 mins: Galatasaray 3 Tottenham 1
Icardi has two early chances in quick succession.
Tottenham are just so sloppy at the back.
Forster saves the first attempt and Icardi then fires his second over the crossbar.
06:52 PM GMT
45 mins: Galatasaray 3 Tottenham 1
The game is back underway in Istanbul.
Tottenham have made two changes at the break, with Bentancur and Kulusevski joining the action. They have replaced Johnson and Son.
06:39 PM GMT
Half-time: Galatasaray 3 Tottenham 1
Galatasaray have ripped up Tottenham’s defence time and time again in these opening 45 minutes and the visitors’ perfect start to the Europa League is at massive risk.
The first half was the Osimhen show - the striker’s brace combined with Akgun’s excellent opening goal puts the hosts firmly in charge of this game.
Osimhen could have already had four goals, having been denied twice by Forster and he certainly looks at risk of netting a couple more if Tottenham don’t change things up for the second half of this match.
Osimhen is only on loan at Galatasaray for the season - one of the stranger transfer deals of last summer given the number of elite clubs he was linked to while looking to force a move away from Italy. His first half double against Spurs means he has scored six goals in eight appearances already this season. Galatasaray are already warning they will be unlikely to be able to afford the 25-year-old on a permanent basis. There are going to be a lot of Premier League clubs watching him closely.
06:33 PM GMT
45 mins: Galatasaray 3 Tottenham 1
Tottenham simply cannot retain possession and it has caused them big problems in the first 45 minutes.
The centre-backs are struggling with the threat posed by two attackers up front. A big team-talk needed at half-time.
There will be three additional minutes at the end of the first half.
06:29 PM GMT
GOAL!
Galatasaray 3 Tottenham 1 (Osimhen, 39)
Another great goal from Osimhen.
He collects Merten’s cross from the right, runs into the box, and neatly volleys it into the bottom right corner.
It’s all Galatasaray at the moment - big changes needed for Tottenham at half-time if they are going to get anything from this match.
Victor Osimhen was heavily linked with a move to the Premier League while he was firing in the goals for Napoli in Serie A and he has tormented Tottenham Hotspur’s defence so far this evening. The Nigeria international has scored twice, probably should have taken two other excellent chances when he only had Fraser Forster to beat in goal and also had another effort ruled out for offside. He is a very lively front man indeed, with great movement and an instinctive goalscorer’s touch.
Spurs have been woeful, especially in defence where Radu Dragusin looks like he is playing in clown shoes so often has he passed the ball to a Galatasaray player. Spurs have had one shot on goal, which they scored, but are being completely outplayed.
What a cross, what a finish 💫
Dries Mertens and Victor Osimhen combine once again to increase Galatasaray's lead to 3-1 over Tottenham 🤝
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/jfWCs9Krpf— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 7, 2024
06:27 PM GMT
38 mins: Galatasaray 2 Tottenham 1
Osimhen breaks and is clear on goal. He shoots from the edge of the box and Forster comes out to quickly gather. Tottenham living dangerously right now...
06:26 PM GMT
37 mins: Galatasaray 2 Tottenham 1
Maddison fires the free-kick into the Galatasaray box, but it’s too heavy and the goalkeeper manages to collect it at the far post.
06:25 PM GMT
36 mins: Galatasaray 2 Tottenham 1
Sanchez takes down Son as the Tottenham player breaks down the left channel. It’s judged to be a foul and the visitors have a free-kick in a dangerous position...
06:21 PM GMT
GOAL!
Galatasaray 2 Tottenham 1 (Osimhen, 31)
It counts this time!
Dragusin gets caught on the ball inside the Tottenham half and Osimhen runs straight on to it.
He charges forward, into the box, and Davies simply can’t get to him in time. He threads the ball into the bottom right corner and the hosts are ahead again.
Give Victor Osimhen a chance and he will take it 🔥
Galatasaray re-take the lead against Tottenham 💥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/nXobvZpICu— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 7, 2024
06:18 PM GMT
30 mins: Galatasaray 1 Tottenham 1
Osimhen has the ball in the back of the net but it is ruled offside.
He taps in a cross from close range and the fans go wild but the flag immediately goes up.
A big let-off for the visitors.
06:17 PM GMT
27 mins: Galatasaray 1 Tottenham 1
Two chances for the hosts in quick succession.
Osimhen volleys the ball into the box which Abdulkerim runs on to. He punts it towards goal but his attempt goes just wide, and he is then call offside.
The hosts quickly attack again and Osimhen threads a ball goalwards which veers just to the left and out of play.
06:13 PM GMT
25 mins: Galatasaray 1 Tottenham 1
End to end stuff.
Osimhen runs into the Tottenham box and decides to take a first-time shot which Forster blocks. The ball goes back into play and Mertens slams the rebound towards goal, however it goes just wide.
Tottenham’s back four are being penetrated far too easily by the hosts at the moment.
06:12 PM GMT
22 mins: Galatasaray 1 Tottenham 1
Torreira concedes a free-kick for a foul on Gray.
Bissouma plays it across the pitch and, after some build-up play, he sends it forward to Johnson.
In a repeat of the first goal, he crosses to Lankshear who awaits in the box but the Galatasaray backline blocks it and the flag then goes up for offside.
06:07 PM GMT
GOAL!
Galatasaray 1 Tottenham 1 (Lankshear, 19)
The visitors pull one back!
It’s a perfectly weighed pass from Gray who sends the ball forward to Johnson in the box. He could go for goal himself but instead crosses to Lankshear who waits at the far post. The forward taps it home - and he has his first senior goal for the club!
The visitors have their equaliser with their first shot on target.
Well we wanted to see how Will Lankshear would handle the big stage, playing in front of an intimidating crowd and he has answered emphatically, standing with his arms out-stretched in celebration right in front of a seething mass of Galatasaray supporters.
The 19-year-old has Brennan Johnson to thank for setting up his first senior goal for Spurs, a lovely cross that left him a simple finish at the far post, stabbing the ball into the roof of the net from inside the six yard box.
What a moment for the teenager and he is quite right to savour it. In fact, if I was any good at playing football, that is precisely the sort of celebration I would go for in front of a crowd like this.
Remember the name: Will Lankshear 🌟
The 19-year-old scores his first senior goal for Tottenham to level the score in Istanbul 👏
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/KDTDMKS6Pv— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 7, 2024
06:05 PM GMT
16 mins: Galatasaray 1 Tottenham 0
Very much one-way traffic at the moment.
Mertens plays down the right and crosses into the Tottenham area. Bissouma blocks it but Galatasaray regain possession.
Yilmaz cuts the ball back into the box but there’s no one there to take a shot. Bissouma regains possession and tries to run it out of danger. He meets Mertens who tackles him and Tottenham win a free-kick.
06:03 PM GMT
15 mins: Galatasaray 1 Tottenham 0
Yellow card for Mertens after he takes Bissouma to the ground with a late tackle.
Dragusin takes the free-kick and Tottenham immediately lose possession to the hosts.
06:00 PM GMT
11 mins: Galatasaray 1 Tottenham 0
Akgun pounces on a ball at the edge of the Tottenham penalty area.
He volleys it towards goal in an attempt to repeat his first but it blasts over the crossbar this time. All very shaky at the back from Tottenham at the moment.
05:58 PM GMT
7 mins: Galatasaray 1 Tottenham 0
Forster meets a poor back-pass from Gray and takes Osimhen down in the box. The forward protests and there is a quick check for a penalty which is soon dismissed.
Very shaky from Tottenham in these early stages.
05:54 PM GMT
GOAL!
Galatasaray 1 Tottenham 0 (Akgun, 6)
Galatasaray’s Mertens is down after Maddison catches him in the air. It’s a free-kick for the hosts in a dangerous position, which Mertens takes.
Gray clears the ball first time but Akgun, running away from goal, catches the rebound and takes a first-time shot at goal from the edge of the box. Forster manages to get a finger to it, but it’s not enough and the ball hits the back of the net.
A great strike - and a very early warning for the visitors.
Oh my what a strike that was from Yunus Akgun and what an explosion of noise that followed. The air vibrated with the sound of the celebrations.
That was one of those classic goals where you say to yourself: “No, don’t hit it from the there… oh wow!!!”
The ball was dropping away from goal, just outside the left corner of the box and Akgun had to sort of bend his body to hit the ball after one bounce, hooking his left leg around to get the angle perfect and it flew into the back of the net.
Spurs have looked more than a little rattled so far and that goal will only give Galatasaray an extra spring in their step to go with the bouncing in the stands.
What a strike from Yunus Akgun 🚀
Galatasaray take an early lead against Tottenham thanks to an absolute rocket of a finish 😱
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/CYVObu3GFg— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 7, 2024
05:50 PM GMT
2 mins: Galatasaray 0 Tottenham 0
The home fans are making their voices heard every time Tottenham gain possession.
Forster plays the ball to Johnson who breaks down the right. Lankshear is away in space and gains possession just outside the box. He tries to shoot but takes too long and Sanchez makes a firm block to deny the visitors an early goal.
Although it looks as though he would have been offside, anyway.
05:47 PM GMT
Kick-off!
Maddison get the match underway at RAMS Park.
05:42 PM GMT
Here we go...
The atmosphere is electric in RAMS Park as the players make their way out onto the pitch and into a cauldron of noise.
05:35 PM GMT
Ange Postecoglou’s pre-match thoughts
Speaking to TNT Sports ahead of the game, the Tottenham manager said...
On young players starting tonight:
“I’m sure the 18-year-olds and 19-year-olds want to play football at this level, they want to play in big stadiums, in European ties - young, old it doesn’t matter. I think the whole team is looking forward to it.”
On the changed line-up:
“It’s about tonight for us. We want to put a lineup out that we think will get the job done - we’ve done that in all games so far this season. We’ve got a lineup out there tonight that we hope will do the job.”
On shaky away record:
”I thought we did well at Ferencvaros - last domestic away game at Palace wasn’t great but we’ve had two games since then, two difficult games, and we’ve done well.”
On Will Lankshear:
“I’m sure Will being around the first team this year, he’s learnt from everybody. It’s a big game for him tonight but he has worked hard for it and I’m sure he will do well.”
05:29 PM GMT
Exciting night for Tottenham’s next generation
Will be fascinating to see how Will Lankshear does in this sort of environment as the Galatasaray fans are really starting to warm up as we approach kick off.
This will be only the second time the 19-year-old has started a game for Spurs and this is some arena to do it in. It might not quite be the hostile, “Welcome to Hell” intimidation of their old home, but it is still one of the loudest crowds in Europe.
Lankshear, poached from Sheffield United after captaining the Blades’ Under-18s side, also started against Hungarian side Ferencvaros earlier in the competition. Ange Postecoglu, understandably, wants to give Dominic Solanke a rest and Richarlison and Timo Werner are both on the injured list.
There is a lot of excitement surrounding Lankshear and of course his presence in the team will remind supporters of the baby steps a certain Harry Kane once took as a senior player in European games like this one.
Spurs have also named two other teenagers in the starting XI in summer signings Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall.
The 16-year-old Luca Williams-Barnett is also on the bench. It will be a night the next gen will always remember – Spurs will be hoping it is for the right reasons.
05:22 PM GMT
Dominic Solanke: ‘I’d love to help the team win something’
Speaking to TNT Sports ahead of the match, the forward said...
On his work rate:
“I think it’s nice for people to recognise it. There are so many other ways to help the team and I’d obviously love to help the team win something this season.”
On Ange Postecoglou:
“He’s a great manager - one of the reasons I was keen to come in the first place. Love his style of football, he’s a winner and he wants to help bring that to Tottenham. We’re all on the same page with that.”
On the atmosphere at RAMS Park:
“Everyone knows how big of a club Galatasaray is and the atmosphere they create in their stadium is immense.
“As a footballer, it’s something that everyone wants to be part of. In our squad, we’ve a lot of players who have played in a lot of big tournaments, big stadiums, big atmospheres, so I think we’ll be ready for it.
“It’s something we’re looking forward to.”
05:17 PM GMT
Tough test for Tottenham
Speaking on TNT Sports ahead of the game, Eni Aluko said:
“This is going to be a tough test [for Spurs]. It is intimidating, aggressive and it’s a cauldron [RAMS Park].
“Particularly for the defence, as they have a test against Victor Osimhen and Mauro Icardi – two top strikers in Europe.”
Osimhen, currently on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, has had an undeniable impact so far this season, scoring four times in five appearances in the Turkish league. He lines up alongside Icardi, the ex-PSG forward, who has netted six times for Galatasaray in 10 games. The two players make a lethal duo and will pose a serious threat to Tottenham’s somewhat weakened backline tonight.
05:05 PM GMT
Good news for Tottenham fans
Tottenham Hotspur are to trigger a one-year option on Son Heung-min’s contract to commit his future to the club beyond the current season, Mike McGrath reported on Monday.
The Spurs and South Korea captain signed his latest deal in 2021 which expires in seven months’ time and it is understood that his club holds the power to extend for a further year.
Spurs only need to inform Son they have triggered their option and Telegraph Sport understands they fully intend to do so.
It means Son will head into a second decade at the club after joining from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015 in a deal worth £22 million, which has been rated as one of Spurs’ finest achievements in the transfer market in the modern era.
Read the full story here.
04:59 PM GMT
The visitors arrive
Locked in for @EuropaLeague action 😤 pic.twitter.com/UnOriT4Qh6
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 7, 2024
04:56 PM GMT
Davinson Sanchez starts against former side
Galatasaray have made just one change from the side that beat Besiktas last week, with Roland Sallai replaced by Dries Mertens in midfield.
Davinson Sanchez, who spent six years at Tottenham, joined Galatasaray in 2023. He starts in defence alongside Kaan Ayhan and Abdulkerim Bardakci. The Colombian centre-back scored in his team’s Turkish league match against Besiktas last Monday, and his manager Okan Buruk will be hoping for more of the same against his former club tonight.
04:45 PM GMT
Will Lankshear leads the line for Tottenham
The centre-forward, 19, makes his second start of the season tonight in a heavily rotated Tottenham side. Lankshear comes in as the visitors deal with a number of absentees, including Richarlison, Timo Werner, and Mikey Moore.
Ben Davies and Radu Dragusin start at the back, alongside Pedro Porro and Archie Gray, as both Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven miss out through injury. Fraser Forster continues in goal in Europe after an impressive performance against AZ Alkmaar last time out. In midfield, Yves Bissouma, James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall all come in after not starting at the weekend against Aston Villa.
Tonight’s opponents are likely to be Tottenham’s toughest in Europe’s so far, so Ange Postecoglou will be hoping his side can cope, whilst missing a few of his trusty starters.
The Tottenham bench features a few unfamiliar names, with youth players Danté Cassanova, 20, and 17-year-old Callum Olusesi among those hoping to gain their first minutes for the senior team tonight.
04:33 PM GMT
And the visitors:
Tottenham XI: Forster, Porro, Dragusin, Davies, Gray, Bergvall, Bissouma, Maddison, Johnson, Lankshear, Son.
04:32 PM GMT
Here’s how the hosts line up:
Galatasaray XI: Muslera, Sanchez, Icardi, Mertens, Yunus, Sara, Kaan, Torreira, Abdulkerim, Osimhen, Baris.
04:18 PM GMT
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04:14 PM GMT
Preview: Visitors look to make it four wins from four
Welcome to our coverage of the Europa League as Galatasaray host Tottenham at RAMS Park in Istanbul.
Both teams are unbeaten in the league phase so far, with Tottenham in second place with a maximum nine points from three games, and Galatasaray close behind in fifth with seven points from two wins and a draw.
The visitors travel to Istanbul off the back of a strong weekend in the Premier League where they came from behind to beat Aston Villa 4-1 on home soil. It saw them rise to seventh place in the domestic table.
However, whilst the north London club are building an impressive home record, they are finding things trickier on the road and head into today’s fixture seeking to avoid a third straight away loss in all competitions.
The hosts are in fine form in the Turkish league – they are top of the table after 10 matches and unbeaten so far, with nine wins and just one draw. Last time out in the Europa League, they beat Swedish side IF Elfsborg 4-3 on home soil.
Tottenham have a number of absentees with both Richarlison and Cristian Romero missing after being forced off in Sunday’s win over Villa. Micky van de Ven and Wilson Odobert continue to be sidelined and are joined by Timo Werner and Mikey Moore. The former has a groin complaint whilst the latter has picked up a virus.
Left-back Ismail Jakobs is Galatasaray’s only absentee.
The visitors will meet a few familiar faces in tonight’s clash, with former Tottenham defender Davinson Sanchez – who scored against Besiktas last weekend – set to start. Ex-Arsenal man Lucas Torreira is likely to start in midfield and star striker Victor Osimhen will be upfront either alongside or instead of ex-PSG forward Mauro Icardi.
We will have team news for you shortly…