The more things have (not actually) changed for Manchester United this season, the more they have stayed the same — particularly in the UEFA Champions League, where goalkeeper Andre Onana makes costly mistakes in goal and Erik ten Hag’s side fails to impress far too regularly.
[ MORE: UEFA Champions League group stage tables in full ]
Manchester United held leads of 2-0 and 3-1 away to Galatasaray on Wednesday, needing all three points to leapfrog from 4th to 2nd in Group A and put themselves on the brink of (somehow) advancing to the Champions League knockout rounds. The final score, 3-3, rings loudly as another massive disappointment and failure by Ten Hag, who in season no. 2 at Old Trafford has overseen so much of last season’s progress completely undone.
The 3-3 draw leaves Man United (4 points from 5 games) needing a victory against group winners Bayern Munich (12 points - still to play on Wednesday), and draw between Galatasaray and Copenhagen in the other fixture on matchday 6, to reach the last-16.
[ LIVE: Champions League schedule, scores ]
It was a sensational start for the Red Devils, as Alejandro Garnacho scored in back-to-back games (WATCH his Goal of the Season award winner from the weekend) and Bruno Fernandes scored a wondergoal of his own (WATCH HERE) to take a 2-0 lead after 18 minutes.
Onana, who made a terrible mistake the first time these sids met earlier in the season, was reintroduced as one of Wednesday’s main characters in the 29th minute, when he was caught rooted to the ground as Hakim Ziyech’s free kick bounced through a crowded penalty area and past him to make the score 2-1.
Scott McTominay got on the end of an Aaron Wan-Bissaka cross in the 55th minute, though, and the two-goal advantage was restored. Alas, Onana was at great fault for Ziyech’s second goal of the game just four minutes later, as he appeared to make the save initially, only for the ball to bounce sharply off his hands and bounce beyond him. 3-2.
From there, it was wave after wave of pressure from Galatasaray, yet Ten Hag made zero substitutions between the 58th (three minutes after McTominay scored to make it 3-1) and 78th minutes (a pair of attacking subs seven minutes after Kerem Akturkoglu made it 3-3 with a fantastic finish of his own), with the likes of Raphael Varane and Sergio Reguilon waiting on the bench.
Player ratings - Galatasaray vs Manchester United
Galatasaray vs Manchester United, final score: 3-3
Goalscorers: Alejandro Garnacho (11'), Bruno Fernandes (18'), Hakim Ziyech (29'), Scott McTominay (55'), Kerem Akturkoglu (71')
11th minute - GOAL - Bruno Fernandes finds Alejandro Garnacho to put Man United ahead
Alejandro Garnacho gives the Red Devils the opening goal in hell. 🌶️ pic.twitter.com/tsFcuYu2Yj
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 29, 2023
18th minute - GOAL - Bruno Fernandes hits a stunner from outside the box
WE DO TALK ABOUT BRUNO!
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 29, 2023
A STUNNER FROM MAN UTD'S CAPTAIN! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/yfDt2DYnCP
29th minute - GOAL - Hakim Ziyech sneaks a free kick past Andre Onana
Hakim Ziyech catches André Onana off of his line and gives his team hope. 👀 pic.twitter.com/AIXYbXGBaS
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 29, 2023
55th minute - GOAL - Scott McTominay turns home a cross from Wan-Bissaka for 3-1
Man Utd have their third of the day!
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 29, 2023
Scott McTominay finishes off a wonderful counterattack. đź’Ą pic.twitter.com/LuwFTEuHnd
63rd minute - GOAL - Andre Onana makes another mistake; Hakim Ziyech scores again
André Onana makes another mistake and Ziyech does it again! 💫 pic.twitter.com/RZr7trPD8f
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 29, 2023
71st minute - GOAL - Hakim Ziyech assists Kerem Akturkoglu’s stunning equalizer
SENSATIONAL FROM AKTÜRKOGLU. 🚀
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 29, 2023
ALL LEVEL BETWEEN GALATASARAY AND MAN UTD IN ISTANBUL. 🌶️ pic.twitter.com/eOoOd3EwjR
How to watch Galatasaray vs Manchester United live, stream, start time live updates
Date: Wednesday, November 29
Kick off: 12:45pm ET
How to watch: Paramount+ and TUDN USA
Manchester United starting lineup
Onana — Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw — McTominay, Amrabat — Antony, Fernandes, Garnacho — Hojlund
Galatasaray starting lineup
Muslera — Boey, Bardakci, Ayhan, Angelino — Toerreira, Ndombele — Ziyech, Mertens, Zaha — Icardi
Galatasaray focus, team news
Okan Buruk has so many star attackers in his squad and it is all about getting the balance right. Zaha, Icardi and Mertens will surely start, while Ziyech and Tete have pace and quality out wide and are great weapons to have coming off the bench. Galatasaray showed in their win at Old Trafford just how dangerous they can be and if they can keep this game tight, United will have to take risks late on and that is when the hosts will look to pounce. They were very unlucky to lose away at Bayern last time out and this Galatasaray side can go on a deep run in this competition if they get out of the group stage. In injury news, Davinson Sanchez is struggling with a hamstring issue and fellow defender Abdulkerim Bardakci has a knock.
Manchester United focus, team news
Erik ten Hag is without Casemiro, Jonny Evans, Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount, Amad Diallo and Christian Eriksen through injury, while Jadon Sancho remains away from the team due to disciplinary reasons and Marcus Rashford is suspended. Rasmus Hojlund and Anotny both missed the win at Everton but both look likely to return for this game. Given all of that, aside from Rashford United could well roll out the same starting lineup which beat Everton with youngster Kobbie Mainoo impressing massively in his first Premier League start. The 18-year-old may not start this game with Sofyan Amrabat perhaps in line to sit in and help United hit Galatasaray on the counter. Luke Shaw’s return from injury was a huge boost for United.