Aleksey Batrakov needed only 15 minutes to decide this game. The 21-year-old Russian scored twice early on as Galatasaray beat Stuttgart 2-0 in Istanbul on Tuesday night, and the German side lost a Champions League game for the first time this season.
Two goals in three minutes
In the 12th minute a loose ball dropped to Batrakov in the middle of the box, and he hit it first time with his right foot. Three minutes later Davinson Sánchez sent him through, and he slid the ball between the legs of goalkeeper Fabian Bredlow.
Stuttgart did get the ball in the net in the 75th minute. Deniz Undav’s shot hit the crossbar and Chris Führich scored from the rebound, but the goal was ruled out after a VAR check. Undav had been offside earlier in the move.
Galatasaray goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır made several saves to keep a clean sheet. Up front, Victor Osimhen played the whole game and tested Bredlow, but this time he did not score.
Stuttgart’s unbeaten run ends
Sebastian Hoeneß brought his team to Turkey with seven points from three games. They had drawn 1-1 with Atlético Madrid and beaten Slovan Bratislava 3-0, so this was a big chance to move closer to the top eight.
Instead they go home with nothing, and they stay on seven points. His side never found a way back after the two early goals.
For Galatasaray it is a second win in a row in the competition after a 4-2 win away at Lille, and it takes them to six points.
Who is Aleksey Batrakov?
Batrakov came through the youth system at Lokomotiv Moscow and joined Galatasaray in August. The Turkish club paid 25 million euros for him and gave him a five-year contract. Lokomotiv will also get 15 percent of the profit if he is sold again.
He arrived with big numbers. Last season he scored 17 goals in 36 games for Lokomotiv. He plays as an attacking midfielder, usually as a number 10, and he can also play on the right. He made his debut for Russia in November 2024.
Our take
Galatasaray spent a lot of money on a young player from a league that most fans in Europe do not watch. Two goals against an unbeaten German side is a strong answer to anyone who doubted the deal.
Stuttgart are far from out. Seven points after four games is a fair total, and there are four games left. But the loss in Istanbul means they can’t afford many more slips if they want a place in the top eight.
Is Batrakov ready to become one of the big names in this Champions League? Tell us in the comments.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Aleksey Batrakov by Ottomanor (CC0); Sebastian Hoeneß by Jeollo (CC BY 4.0); Victor Osimhen by Ottomanor (CC0); Galatasaray stadium by Antoloji (CC BY-SA 4.0).
