A wonderful free-flowing move from Atletico saw them take a fourth-minute lead, thanks to Giuliano Simeone’s powerful downward header from Matteo Ruggeri’s inviting cross.
Galatasaray were suitably rocked, but in Victor Osimhen there was an obvious trump card, and with the Nigerian lurking, Jan Oblak nearly made his 100th UCL appearance one to forget, flapping at a cross and almost conceding an equaliser just six minutes later.
Instead, it would be a mistake from Marcos Llorente that brought the hosts level, as the Spaniard turned in Roland Sallai’s hopeful ball in from the right as the clock hit 20.
From there, it was a tale of prolonged periods of possession with little threat. Shots were either wayward or blocked, with the more physical side of the game and a congested midfield ensuring that neither side could make any further headway before half-time.
A subdued start to the second half was in keeping with what had gone before, with only three total attempts on target in the entire game as we approached the hour mark.
The official didn’t buy Leroy Sané’s attempt to win a penalty, before Alexander Sorloth blazed a volley over at the other end, and the silence at Rams Park was deafening.
The back and forth was sterile at times, with Gala not having a shot at goal in the first 30 minutes of the second period, and Atleti’s final ball nowhere close to the excellence expected at this level.
With just five minutes to play, a remarkable save by Ugurcan Cakir from Antoine Griezmann’s free-kick kept the scores level.
Atletico will duly go into this evening’s action – and possibly the final UCL league phase matchday – hanging on to an automatic qualification spot by their fingernails. Meanwhile, Galatasaray could seal a spot in the top-24 later tonight without kicking a ball.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Davinson Sanchez (Galatasaray)
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