Manchester City 2-0 Galatasaray Review

CL LP GW8

In what was a mad final night of Champions League fixtures, with plenty of teams coming from behind to win late, and the top eight constantly changing, Manchester City managed to get through without needing to play additional play-off matches. Beating Galatasaray, which included former players Leroy Sane and Ilkay Gündoğan.

No confirmation on the opponent in the round of 16, other than it will be the winner of one of two ties. Benfica vs Real Madrid or Inter Milan vs Bodo.

MOTM: RAYAN AIT-NOURI

Rayan Ait-Nouri showed his qualities tonight, leading the team for progressive carries and box entries. Unfortunate to not have an assist, creating the most chances in the game. 4/6 dribbles completed. 5/9 ground duels won. 2/2 aerial duels won. 3 clearances. 1 big chance missed.

It was important for him, after the performance against Bodo, to showcase his qualities and take a step forward as a genuine option to start at left-back. Different from O’Reilly with his dribbling down the flank, and early crosses he can whip across to the back-post.

There were plenty of other genuine contenders for MOTM. Jeremy Doku, despite coming off with an injury, was sensational for those minutes. Rayan Cherki, another.

Notable Stats:

• The average age of Manchester City’s starting XIs this season (25y 140d) is their youngest in a single UEFA Champions League campaign; they have handed starts to seven different players aged 22 or younger in this edition so far.

• Back-to-back starts by Omar Marmoush for the first time since August 2025.

• Phil Foden starts two consecutive games on the bench for the first-time this season.

• Nathan Ake has now surpassed 1,000+ minutes this season.

• Abdukodir Khusanov has completed 7 consecutive full 90s, the longest run by a Manchester City central defender all season. Among all outfield players, he's tied with Nico Gonzalez (Swansea > Leeds).

Game Stats:

Manchester City 2-0 Galatasaray

• xG: 1.99 - 0.23

• Possession: 50.0% - 50.0%

• Penalty Box Shots: 8 - 3

• Total Shots: 10 - 4

• Big Chances: 5 - 0

If you want to stay up-to-date on individual player minutes, back four combinations, underlying numbers, and more, check out the live Google sheet below. 👇

Despite some changes, the setup was very similar to what we saw against Wolves, with the full-backs advancing in a 4-2-2-2, as you have the pivot of O’Reilly and Silva. Two 10s in Doku and Cherki. Marmoush and Haaland are looking to attack the defensive line on either side, occupying the central defenders.

It pulled the wingers of Galatasaray deeper to track Ait-Nouri and Nunes on either side, and made it quite simple for the central defenders and pivot to build up past the front two of Osimhem and Sara. Another look, if only for a short time, at how devastating Jeremy Doku can be playing as a #10.

In the second half, Galatasaray committed to the high press, going M2M, which gave City some issues in the buildup, to find the spare man, and on a few ocasions going long, the ball was not held up well. On the flipside, it opened up more space behind when they did get through, leading to the many chances that the team didn’t take to kill the game.

Manchester City is happy to press with the full-backs in this game, and keep the midfielders of Galatasaray covered, not needing O’Reilly to make jumps. The winger tucks inside, depending on the side the opposition are pushed to, generally the left, with Marmoush or Haaland jumping onto the central defender. Otherwise, leave it to the keeper to go long.

In the second half, Galatasaray had some success with baiting out the press of Manchester City before eventually going long. Getting Marmoush and Ait-Nouri to jump, which then allows you to find a 3v3. That then dried up once City dropped back off and picked their moments to press, along with Reijnders coming on, to sit off Galatasaray in a 4-1-4-1.

The first chance of the game was a big one, and Rayan Ait-Nouri immediately showed the deliveries that he has over O’Reilly from left-back with the early cross driven towards the back-post for Haaland. His header was just wide as he heads it back across the goal, and that should have been the opening goal.

E. Haaland 10' 1-0
As we've seen throughout this season, Jeremy Doku is playing inside, with the full-back providing the width. Drops to receive, goes past Gundogan, and plays the pass in behind for Erling Haaland.

You'll notice the benefit of playing Omar Marmoush in this setup, inside and occupying the other central defender, as Sanchez is drawn towards, and facing him the moment Doku bursts inside.

From there, Haaland can outpace the defender, get his body in front, and take one look at the keeper before chipping it to finish the move.

After that, there weren’t an endless amount of chances as Manchester City looked to exploit the likes of Marmoush and Haaland with their runs in behind. Doku (23’) had a shot from outside the box blocked, followed by a well-taken strike by O’Reilly, also outside the box and saved. Galatasaray only has one shot across the first half, which was wide and saved by Donnarumma (26’).

R. Cherki ' 29' 2-0
Run in behind from Jeremy Doku, picked out by Ait-Nouri. He drags Sanchez, along with the opposition full-back, down to the byline, before cutting it back to Cherki, free on the edge of the box. Finished in the bottom left corner to double the lead.

I should add as well, if you watch it back, once Gundogan makes his 2nd scan to see where Cherki is, that is the moment he puts the brakes on to find a pocket of space, ready for the pass by Doku. That is a clever moment.

Not long after the second goal, Jeremy Doku picked up an injury (37’) and was replaced by Phil Foden. The latter has been struggling of late, and that continued into this game. He had a few very bright moments, but lacked the decisive final action in the box we’ve seen for most of this season.

Before the first half finished, Cherki (38’) and Foden (45’) got two shots inside the box. Blocked and missed. Given the quality of the opposition team, the pressure on this game to win, it was a measured and controlled first half from Manchester City.

Only three chances for Galatasaray across the second half. The first was an Osimhen (55’) header from the corner easily saved by Donnarumma, who is tracking it the entire time. Another shot from Osimhem on the edge of the box (64’) was saved by Donnarumma, and then Sanchez (90’), with a shot on the edge of the box, was saved. But for the most part, as we saw in the first half, the team limited Galatasaray very well, and one big part of that was the performance of Khusanov battling with Osimhen. Making all his outstanding physical qualities redundant.

Marmoush (62’) shot saved, messed up his first touch, and made the shot tame. Should have taken it the first time with the conviction we saw last weekend against Wolves. Two other chances, each blocked, that should have been taken better were the shots by Foden (65’) and Ait-Nouri (65’). If the latter opted for a chip, that would have seen him score his first for the club.

Reijnders (67’) then came on for Marmoush towards the end of the second half, as the team looked a touch flat at times in their press to force Galatasaray into turning over the ball.

He offered an additional player deeper in the buildup to get past the high press that Galatasaray changed to in the second half, whilst still providing the legs to support in transition, and make runs ahead of the ball. Those runs got him a couple of times in great positions inside the box, but either his touch or pass was off, which stopped him from taking a shot. Although after a nasty head clash, it’s difficult to be too critical of him in these moments.

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Moving Forward

Now the team will have Semenyo and Guehi available for all the future Champions League matches. You’ve got players back from AFCON and performing. Ruben Dias is due back soon from his injury. Nico Gonzalez looked bright, playing his first minutes coming back, and Rodri was rested, albeit due to his suspension. The squad is coming back at the right time with two huge games coming up against Spurs and Liverpool.

Like Wolves, this was a controlled and measured performance from Manchester City, with plenty of bright spots, as well as showing in the second half where the team can improve, to kill games. If you want to dominate the full ninety minutes, you can’t leave chances on the table and expect the other team to accept a 2-0 defeat.

It’s huge to get back two full weeks of rest for the players and staff by avoiding the play-off rounds and making it into the top eight. Those ties would have been played before Newcastle (H) and Leeds (A) in the Premier League. Now they have the week to train and give players days off for recovery, ahead of those important matches.

Another midfield start for Nico O'Reilly, who led the team for progressive passes and passes into the final third. 4/4 aerial duels won. 5 ball recoveries. 2 Interceptions. We saw the cameo against Exeter City, looking more settled in midfield, but Newcastle (LC) was the real test away from home, which O’Reilly has built on with his performance against Galatasaray.

With future business and returning players, I don’t think O’Reilly will be playing lots of midfield minutes in the short-term, but certainly will become a serious option in time. Remarkable to look back on his progress from the Community Shield against United last season until now.

Oscar Bobb has his move to Fulham confirmed. Good fee, relative to his experience level, and maintains an option to bring him back, should it go well, with the matching rights for a bid Fulham accepts from another club. Hopefully, this is the change needed for Oscar Bobb to find the confidence he had a couple of seasons ago, before the injury. The aggressive and fearless nature of his play around the opposition box hasn't been there since returning.

For Fulham, it's not an outrageous fee given what attackers have been going for elsewhere in the Premier League lately. You're taking a punt on Bobb finding that form again. Certainly, have a manager capable of it. Technically, as good as anyone in their squad. Can play inside, out wide, and as a false nine. The finishing is there, but the decision-making is the issue, to get more shot volume, and then eventually, output. Now go take some points off Arsenal for us!

From the comments by Pep Lijnders in the press conference, it doesn’t look like Jeremy Doku will be sidelined for long, but they’ll miss him for games against Spurs and Liverpool away from home.

Add to that, Ruben Dias will be back in training on Monday, following the Spurs game. I’d imagine Liverpool (A) will come too soon, but he could return in the League to start against Fulham (H), and at least be an option in the final minutes at Anfield, should he be needed.

Next up for Manchester City is Spurs (A) on Sunday, the 1st of February at 16:30 (UK time). It’s the final game of the weekend, after Arsenal has played Leeds (A). Either way, there will be big pressure on the game to close the gap, and it’s a tough opponent for Manchester City in recent history, despite the form of Spurs in the Premier League. They’ve also finished in the top eight of the Champions League.

If you’re looking for more discussion around the game, then check out the 9320 review podcast I was on earlier this week, linked below. 👇