Galatasaray Stuns Liverpool in Champions League Round of 16
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Galatasaray is cutting a swath through European soccer's giants in the Champions League, first taking down Juventus and now beating Liverpool 1-0 in the round of 16.
Mario Lemina's seventh-minute header secured the win for Galatasaray, which stunned Juventus with a 7-5 aggregate victory in the playoffs.
The second leg is at Anfield next Wednesday, where Galatasaray had chances to take an even bigger lead to Merseyside, with Victor Osimhen's second-half strike ruled out for offside.
Liverpool saw Ibrahima Konate's effort disallowed by VAR for handball, but Lemina headed the ball into the net in from close range after Osimhen headed goalward from a corner.
Barcelona, meanwhile, is facing Newcastle in a later kickoff, with coach Hansi Flick leaving his players in no doubt about what's at stake.
“It’s one of the most important moments of the season and we are all ready for it,” he said.
Five-time European champion Barcelona hasn't won the Champions League since 2015 and has had to watch as its fiercest rival Real Madrid has dominated the competition.
Flick delivered the Spanish title last season, but his team was knocked out of the Champions League at the semifinals stage.
He is aiming to improve on that this time around.
