By Our Reporter
Victor Osimhen failed to score but played a key role as Galatasaray secured a 1–0 victory over Liverpool in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash in Istanbul.
Mario Lemina scored the decisive goal in the seventh minute, heading home after Osimhen flicked on a corner delivered by Gabriel Sara.
Galatasaray nearly doubled their lead later in the match when Osimhen finished from close range following a defensive mistake, but the goal was ruled out for offside in the build-up.
Liverpool had chances to equalise, with Florian Wirtz going close early on before Hugo Ekitike was denied by a superb save from Uğurcan Çakır.
The English side thought they had equalised in the second half after a corner from Dominik Szoboszlai led to the ball crossing the line, but the goal was ruled out following a VAR review for handball against Ibrahima Konaté.
The result gives Galatasaray a slim advantage ahead of the return leg at Anfield on March 18.