29 November 2023 , 19:40
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They led 2-0 and 3-1 in rainy Istanbul, but Manchester United still contrived to fail to win a match that leaves their Champions League hopes for the season hanging by a thread.
Two goals in the first 18 minutes from Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes had put Erik ten Hag's side clear in the clash, only for Hakim Ziyech's free-kick to beat a static Andre Onana just before the half-hour mark to halve the deficit.
Scott McTominay restored the two-goal lead 10 minutes into the second half, before Onana fumbled in another Ziyech free-kick and then Kerem Akturkoglu blasted in a superb third.
Here are the key United performers:
Winners
Alejandro Garnacho
Garnacho fired Manchester United ahead after 11 minutes (Kieran McManus/REX/Shutterstock)Sure, he can do it while facing the wrong way and hovering six feet above the ground at Goodison Park on a chilly Sunday afternoon, but what about 11 minutes into a hostile, must-win clash in rainy Istanbul from a much more favourable angle? Yep, he can do that too.
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The story of Manchester United's 2023-24 might still end up being written by Garnacho, who has always looked to have ability but now appears to be added that all important ruthlessness to his game.
It is the raw stats that only goals produce which is what made his hero Cristiano Ronaldo the player he became of course, and the penny seems to be dropping for a talent who can go the distance.
Bruno Fernandes
A big moment in a big game for the United skipper, who chose the perfect time to score his first Champions League goal of the season and a pretty impressive distance from which to score it too.
Fernandes could be seen tearing around the pitch in the game's opening moments, at one stage going too far when he conceded the foul that let to the opener, but his goal was superb and he underlined his quality again.
Harry Maguire
Harry Maguire stood tall at the back (Hollandse Hoogte/REX/Shutterstock)It can't be easy playing in the Manchester United defence given what is behind you - more on him soon - and especially given everything Maguire has been through in the past few months. He's got enough to focus on in his own game as it is.
Victor Lindelof playing next to him wasn't great either, but Maguire was often holding the defence together and threw in a couple of impressive blocks just as hosts threatened to turn the game around in the first half. They eventually did in the second of course, but Maguire was still there blocking and heading away, no doubt cursing his team-mates as he did so.
Losers
Andre Onana
Andre Onana's poor goalkeeper let Galatasaray back into the match twice (Hollandse Hoogte/REX/Shutterstock)United have to be thankful for their potency in attack because, well, *gestures at the goalkeeper".
Onana is clearly good with the ball at his feet. We know that, we were told that both before he signed for the club and by his cheerleaders even during his disastrous displays in a United shirt this season.
After he allowed Ziyech's first free-kick to pass beyond him for Gala's first goal, the 'stopper' then fumbled another into the net and got nowhere near the third. It has reached the point where he is the biggest liability at the club.
Sofyan Amrabat
There was a start in midfield for Sofyan Amrabat instead of young Kobbie Mainoo who impressed at Everton, and the youngster might be wondering just what the hype around the Moroccan is for.
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Given that throwing Mainoo in from the start of the game was always going to be a big decision it was understandable that Ten Hag went for his big summer addition in midfield, but right from the off he looked to be a little hot-headed, at one stage flying into a challenge when he didn't need to. It was no surprise he went off before the hour.