Showing posts with label Galatasaray. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Galatasaray. Show all posts

Gala edge United in Turkey

A second-half header from Burak Yilmaz condemned Manchester United to a 1-0 away defeat to Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League.

Yilmaz climbed highest to meet a 54th-minute corner to inflict upon United their first defeat in Group H.



With United having already qualified as group winners, the win leaves Galatasaray hanging on to second spot before the final matchday in a fortnight.



With top spot already secure, Sir Alex Ferguson left many of his stars at home, with Nick Powell handed his first European start and a welcome return for Phil Jones after a knee injury.



The hosts had the better of the early exchanges, with Anders Lindegaard keeping out Yilmaz's drive from distance, before the Turkish forward headed over when unmarked midway through the first half.



United grew into the game and came closest to opening the scoring when Powell headed Tom Cleverley's corner against the bar two minutes before half-time.



Albert Riera tested Lindegaard again four minutes after the interval with a volley from distance which the United keeper did well to hold.



Lindegaard made an even better save shortly after to turn Felipe Melo's header over the bar, but from the resultant corner in the 54th minute, Galatasaray took the lead.



Selcuk Inan's delivered an outswinger from the right which Yilmaz attacked, outmuscling Darren Fletcher on his way to planting a header into the top corner, over Rafael on the far post.



United continued to be a threat on the counter attack, but Fernando Muslera remained relatively untroubled in the hosts' goal.



Ferguson threw on Ashley Young and Federico Macheda for the last 15 minutes, but Galatasaray almost doubled their lead moments later when Hamit Altintop's 25-yard drive was brilliantly tipped onto the bar by the diving Lindegaard.



United spent much of the last ten minutes on the front foot, with Josh King replacing Danny Welbeck, but Galatasaray held on and now travel to Braga on the final matchday in possession of the second qualifying spot in Group H.


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Galatasaray loan Felipe Melo from Juventus

Felipe Melo has rejoined Galatasaray from Juventus on a season-long loan, with the option to make the move permanent at the end of the season.



The Turkish champions have paid the Turin giants a fee of 1.75-million-euros to borrow the Brazil international for the coming season, and will have to shell out an additional 6.5 million euros if they opt to buy him outright.



Gala have also confirmed via their official website that Melo will be earning an annual salary of 2.9 million euros, plus a bonus of 25,000 euros per game.



The 29-year-old already spent the previous campaign on loan at the Istanbul giants, who were keen to sign him on a permanent basis this summer.



Nevertheless, they have now had to settle for another temporary deal after refusing to meet Juve's demands for a full transfer.



Melo, who has 22 caps for Brazil to his name, previously wore the jerseys of clubs such as Flamengo, Almeria and Fiorentina.



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