Manchester United’s Impressive start to Champions league campaign come to an end in the hands of Champions League new comers & Turkish champions Istanbul Basaksehir 2-1. Başakşehir scored their first goal and first point of UEFA Champions league and picked up first win of Champions league
United manager Ole gunnar solskjaer, made couple of Changes to the starting XI from weekend’s 0-1 loss to Arsenal in the premier league. Henderson starts in place of De Gea, Tuanzebe starts in-place of Lindelöf, Spaniard Mata & Dutch Man Van de Beek in, Progba & Greenwood out. Martial retains his place at the front of United’s attack.
Istanbul Başakşehir has some familiar faces in their starting XI, former United Right back Rafael, former liverpool man Škrtel and former Chelsea forward Demba Ba.
United’s defensive nightmare continued in Istanbul as well, Demba Ba opened the scoring for home side in 13 minutes with a wonderful counter attack goal.United win a corner and commit men forward – too many, in fact. Višća shows great vision with a superb long ball that Demba Ba – waiting just inside his own half – sprints on to before side-footing past Henderson.
The hosts double their lead in 40 minutes, Deniz Türüc hustles Mata out of possession on halfway and blazes a trail down the left, clipping in a low pass that Ba cleverly dummies. Višća is just the man you want running on to it and he doesn’t disappoint as he blasts past Henderson.
Ole men were awful in the first-half, their defense is everywhere and they failed to register a shot on target until Martial’s 43 minute header, which halve the deficit. Shaw does much of the hard work, making space on the left for a fine corner that the unmarker Martial nods in from close range. The Başakşehir defence appear to switch off.
Istanbul headed to half-time break with a 2-1 lead. A solid defensive performance and quick countattacks have produced the Turkish titleholders’ first goals in the UEFA Champions League.
Ole made five changes in second half McTominay, Progba, Cavani, Greenwood and Fosu-Mensah replaced Tuanzebe, Van de Beek, Mata, Rashford and Wan-Bissaka respectively. But none of the moves helped United to find a equalizer against solid Istanbul defense.
United came inches close to score their second goal in the injury time, but Unbelievable goal-line clearance prevents an own goal from Mehmet Topal.
Match-Stats:
| Istanbul | – | Man United |
|---|---|---|
| 38% | POSSESSION % | 62% |
| 76% | PASSING ACCURACY | 86% |
| 365 | PASSES | 773 |
| 3 | Shots ON TARGET | 2 |
| 3 | Shots OFF TARGET | 3 |
| 1 | CORNERS | 5 |
| 1 | OFFSIDES | 1 |
| 1 | YELLOW CARDS | 1 |
| 9 | FOULS COMMITTED | 9 |
