Alexey Batrakov delivered the decisive early double as Galatasaray defeated VfB Stuttgart 2–0 at RAMS Park on Tuesday, November 3, securing three points in the UEFA Champions League league phase.
Batrakov struck in the 12th and 15th minutes, giving the hosts a two-goal cushion before Stuttgart had made it through the opening quarter-hour. Neither side added to the tally, leaving that burst as the defining passage of the fixture in Istanbul.
Batrakov puts Galatasaray in command
Stuttgart’s evening began with Atakan Karazor receiving a yellow card in the second minute. The greater damage followed soon afterwards: Batrakov opened the scoring after 12 minutes, then doubled both his tally and Galatasaray’s advantage in the 15th.
Those goals left the visitors chasing the match, and the hosts carried their 2–0 lead into the interval. Deniz Undav was booked in the 38th minute, Galatasaray’s Baris Alper Yilmaz followed a minute later, and Stuttgart’s Yanik Spalt also received a yellow card in first-half stoppage time.
Stuttgart’s efforts bring no breakthrough
The final statistics show Stuttgart were not short of attempts. Both teams registered 13 shots, with the visitors producing five on target to Galatasaray’s four. Yet Stuttgart could not turn those efforts into a goal, while Batrakov’s early contribution proved enough for the home side.
Galatasaray finished with 52.2 percent possession and a 6–4 advantage in corners. A goalless second half preserved their lead and delivered a clean sheet to accompany the victory.
The bookings continued after the interval, with Stuttgart’s Grischa Prömel and Ramon Hendriks cautioned alongside Galatasaray’s Roland Sallai and Lucas Torreira. In total, the visitors collected five yellow cards to the hosts’ three.
For Stuttgart, the frustration was a night of comparable shooting numbers without a breakthrough. For Galatasaray, the difference was Batrakov: two goals in the opening 15 minutes, followed by a clean sheet that ensured his early double settled the contest.
