Galatasaray to open European campaign in Lisbon
Galatasaray opens its 2026–2027 Champions League campaign on Sept. 9 night with a high-stakes away fixture against Sporting CP, navigating a formidable European test despite a mounting injury crisis within the squad.
The match that kicks off at 8 p.m. local time in the Portuguese capital marks the beginning of the continental journey under the expanded 36-team single-table format, where every point, clean sheet, and goal difference metric counts towards securing a top-eight finish for direct advancement to the round of 16 or earning a vital berth in the two-legged knockout playoffs scheduled for the new year.
Coach Okan Buruk’s tactical preparations have been severely disrupted by fitness setbacks following recent domestic action in the Süper Lig.
The Süper Lig champion travels to Lisbon without star forward Victor Osimhen and experienced midfielder Mario Lemina, both of whom picked up right adductor strains during a hard-fought 3–2 victory over Başakşehir on Sept. 4.
